Radiation Weighting Factors and High Energy Radiation

It can be shown that the values of the radiation weighting factors, wR, recommended in ICRP Publication 60 for high energy neutrons and protons are overconservative. The approximation obtained by the rule recommended in Paragraph (A14) of Publication 60 is generally inadequate for high energy radiation. In order to determine appropriate wR values in the high energy region, several criteria are here analysed. Modifications of the recommended values are proposed for neutrons of energy above 100 MeV and for protons above 10 MeV. The wR value for muons is confirmed to be practically equal to unity. Sets of values intended for use with negative and positive pions are determined.