Efficiency of Inactivation of Dry T-1 Bacteriophage by Protons, Deuterons, and Helium Ions from a 60-Inch Cyclotron

Abstract

Accelerated ions yielding linear energy transfer (LET) values 4 x 107 to 70 x 107 electron volts per milligram per centimeter squared show the same effect per unit dose for plaque survival of dry T-1 phage. A comparison of 40-Mev helium ions and 1.8-Mev protons at the same LET has shown no significant difference in effect on phage survival. Dry phage irradiated in a high vacuum requires a much higher dose, 5.25 x 105 rad, for inactivation to 37% survival than does the phage in protected suspension.