This book provides a unique and comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art understanding of the
molecular and nano-scale processes that play significant roles in ion-beam cancer therapy. It
covers experimental design and methodology and reviews the theoretical understanding of the
processes involved. It offers the reader an opportunity to learn from a coherent approach about
the physics chemistry and biology relevant to ion-beam cancer therapy a growing field of
important medical application worldwide. The book describes phenomena occurring on different
time and energy scales relevant to the radiation damage of biological targets and ion-beam
cancer therapy from the molecular (nano) scale up to the macroscopic level. It illustrates how
ion-beam therapy offers the possibility of excellent dose localization for treatment of
malignant tumours minimizing radiation damage in normal tissue whilst maximizing cell-killing
within the tumour offering a significant development in cancer therapy. The full potential of
such therapy can only be realized by better understanding the physical chemical and biological
mechanisms on a range of time and space scales that lead to cell death under ion irradiation.
This book describes how using a multiscale approach experimental and theoretical expertise
available can lead to greater insight at the nanoscopic and molecular level into radiation
damage of biological targets induced by ion impact. The book is intended for advanced students
and specialists in the areas of physics chemistry biology and medicine related to ion-beam
therapy radiation protection biophysics radiation nanophysics and chemistry atomic and
molecular physics condensed matter physics and the physics of interaction of charged
particles with matter. One of the most important features of the book is the inclusive
multiscale approach to the understanding of complex and highly interdisciplinary processes
behind ion-beam cancer therapy which stretches from the atomistic level up to the biological
scale and is demonstrated to be in excellent agreement with experimental observations.
