Equivalent Dose
A radiation protection dose quantity weighing absorbed dose by the specific biological effectiveness factor w_R of the radiation type.
Governing formula
H = D × w_R (Radiation Weighting Factor w_R)
SI unit
Sv (Sievert = J/kg) or rem
In depth
Accounts for varying biological damage caused by different radiation types. Photons and electrons have w_R = 1; alpha particles have w_R = 20 (causing 20 times more biological damage per Gray due to high ionization density).
Examples in the real world
A 1 Gy alpha particle absorbed dose producing an equivalent dose of 20 Sv due to high linear energy transfer.