https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-025-01719-4
Regular Article
Nanometric scale track structure simulations in liquid water using the GEANT4-DNA Monte-Carlo
1
Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory, LPMC-ERSA, Faculty of Science Ben M’sik Hassan II University, 20670, Casablanca, Morocco
2
Department of physic UAE, FP, Larache, Morocco
a
abdenbikhouaja@gmail.com
b
s.ouaskit@gmail.com
Received:
1
July
2024
Accepted:
29
May
2025
Published online:
31
October
2025
This study evaluates the physical concepts underlying microdosimetric spectra and related non-stochastic quantities, emphasising the stochastic nature of energy deposition in nanometric targets. We used the GEANT4-DNA Monte Carlo Track-Structure code to simulate the passage of ionising radiation through nanometric spheres of liquid water representing biological targets such as base pairs (2 nm), nucleosomes (10 nm), chromatin (30 nm) and chromosomes (300 nm). Our simulations covered the energy ranges 0.05–10 keV for electrons and 0.08–20 MeV for protons. We calculated the microdosimetric distribution factors, 
, 
, 
and 
, for both electron and proton radiation. Our results showed that for electrons, the maximum values depend on the target dimensions, while for protons, the maximum values in the selected energy range were found to be independent of the target dimensions. The calculated results highlight the influence of target size in electron microdosimetry and the different behaviour of protons when the inelastic and vibrational processes of the GEANT4-DNA code are activated.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
