What are energy losses by electrons in collision interactions dependent on?

Energy losses by electrons in collision interactions are significantly influenced by the atomic number (Z) of the material they are traversing. As electrons pass through matter, they can collide with the atoms in that material, which can lead to energy loss through ionization and excitation processes. The extent of this energy loss is strongly dependent on the atomic number of the medium because higher atomic number materials have a greater number of electrons that can be interacted with, leading to increased rates of energy loss per distance traveled.

When electrons move through a medium with a high atomic number, they experience more frequent collisions due to the increased density of electronic charge. This results in a higher likelihood of energy loss, and, consequently, a more pronounced effect on their average energy as they travel through the material. Therefore, understanding the influence of atomic number on energy losses can help in predicting how electrons will behave in different types of media, which is crucial in fields like radiation therapy and dosimetry.

While factors such as the mass and velocity of the electron, and the thickness of the medium are relevant to determining the overall interaction dynamics, the direct correlation between atomic number and energy loss in this context is the most significant factor.