Abstract
IN developing the mathematical theory of radiobiological phenomena it is necessary to consider two separate, yet related, problems. The first problem is concerned with the probability of occurrence of effective ionizing radiations within a so-called sensitive volume (or mass) of a living organism. This probability depends on the geometry of the target and the absorption of radiation quanta. The quantum hit theory which has been advanced to explain this initial effect has been discussed by D. E. Lea1. The second problem, which is concerned with the probability that the initial damage to the system will cause a certain effect, has received very little theoretical consideration. In a paper to be published elsewhere I have considered a mathematical model of the transmission of primary radiation damage through a biological system2. This model is based on the theory of Markov chains3; It is the purpose of this communication to present the model developed and to suggest some possible biological interpretations of the results obtained. For the complete treatment of the problem the paper referred to above should be consulted.
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References
Lea, D. E., “Actions of Radiations on the Living Cell” (Camb. Univ. Press, 1946).
Reid, A. T., and Landau, H. G., Bull. Math. Biophysics, 13, 153 (1951).
Feller, W., “An Introduction to Probability Theory and its Applications” (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1950).
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REID, A. A Probability Model of Radiation Damage. Nature 169, 369–370 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/169369a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/169369a0
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