Photodynamics of Water Elicited by Ionizing Radiation: A Molecular View

Abstract

The ultrafast dynamic processes initiated by ioni­zing radiation in water are discussed. At low photon energies, the primary processes are photoexcitation and photoionization. Both reaction channels ultimately lead to the formation of reactive species such as OH^• radical or solvated electron. Ejection of low-lying electrons initiate further electron processes such as the Auger decay or the recently identified intermolecular Coulomb decay. All these processes contribute to radiation damage of biomolecules. Novel experimental and theoretical methods used for the study of primary events in radiation chemistry of water are described.