Description
Book SynopsisAtoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection Discover the keys to radiation protection in the fourth edition of this best-selling textbook
A variety of atomic and sub-atomic processes, including alpha, beta, and gamma decay or electron ejection from inner atom shells, can produce ionizing radiation. This radiation can in turn produce environmental and biological effects both harmful – including DNA damage and other impacts of so-called ‘radiation sickness’ – and helpful, including radiation treatment for cancerous tumors. Understanding the processes that generate radiation and the steps which can be taken to mitigate or direct its effects is therefore critical in a wide range of industries and medical subfields.
For decades, Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection has served as the classic reference work on the subject of ionizing radiation and its safeguards. Beginning with a presentation of fundamental atomic structure and the physical mechanisms which produce radiation, the book also includes thorough discussion of how radiation can be detected and measured, as well as guide-lines for interpreting radiation statistics and detailed analysis of protective measures, both individual and environmental. Now updated by a new generation of leading scholars and researchers, Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection will continue to serve global scientific and industrial research communities.
Readers of the fourth edition of Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection will also find:
- Detailed updates of existing material, including the latest recommendations of the ICRP and NCRP
- Treatment of current physiokinetic and dosimetric models
- All statistics now presented in SI units, making the book more globally accessible
Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection is a foundational guide for graduate students and researchers in health physics and nuclear physics, as well as related industries.
Table of ContentsABOUT ATOMIC PHYSICS AND RADIATION
Classical Physics
Discovery of X-Rays
Some Important Dates in Atomic and Radiation Physics
Important Dates in Radiation Protection
Sources and Levels of Radiation Exposure
Suggested Reading
ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND ATOMIC RADIATION
The Atomic Nature of Matter (ca. 1900)
The Rutherford Nuclear Atom
Bohr's Theory of the Hydrogen Atom
Semiclassical Mechanics, 1913-1925
Quantum Mechanics
The Pauli Exclusion Principle
Atomic Theory of the Periodic System
Molecules
Solids and Energy Bands
Continuous and Characteristic X Rays
Auger Electrons
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
THE NUCLEUS AND NUCLEAR RADIATION
Nuclear Structure
Nuclear Binding Energies
Alpha Decay
Beta Decay (beta-)
Gamma-Ray Emission
Internal Conversion
Orbital Electron Capture
Positron Decay (beta+)
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
RADIOACTIVE DECAY
Activity
Exponential Decay
Specific Activity
Serial Radioactive Decay
Natural Radioactivity
Radon and Radon Daughters
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
INTERACTION OF HEAVY CHARGED PARTICLES WITH MATTER
Energy-Loss Mechanisms
Maximum Energy Transfer in a Single Collision
Single-Collision Energy-Loss Spectra
Stopping Power
Semiclassical Calculation of Stopping Power
The Bethe Formula for Stopping Power
Mean Excitation Energies
Table for Computation of Stopping Powers
Stopping Power of Water for Protons
Range
Slowing-Down Time
Limitations of Bethe's Stopping-Power Formula
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
INTERACTION OF ELECTRONS WITH MATTER
Energy-Loss Mechanisms
Collisional Stopping Power
Radiative Stopping Power
Radiation Yield
Range
Slowing-Down Time
Examples of Electron Tracks in Water
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
PHENOMENA ASSOCIATED WITH CHARGED-PARTICLE TRACKS
Delta Rays
Restricted Stopping Power
Linear Energy Transfer (LET)
Specific Ionization
Energy Straggling
Range Straggling
Multiple Coulomb Scattering
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
INTERACTION OF PHOTONS WITH MATTER
Interaction Mechanisms
Photoelectric Effect
Energy-Momentum Requirements for Photon Absorption by an Electron
Compton Effect
Pair Production
Photonuclear Reactions
Attenuation Coefficients
Energy-Transfer and Energy-Absorption Coefficients
Calculation of Energy Absorption and Energy Transfer
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
NEUTRONS, FISSION, AND CRITICALITY
Introduction
Neutron Sources
Classification of Neutrons
Interactions with Matter
Elastic Scattering
Neutron-Proton Scattering Energy-Loss Spectrum
Reactions
Energetics of Threshold Reactions
Neutron Activation
Fission
Criticality
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
METHODS OF RADIATION DETECTION
Ionization in Gases
Ionization in Semiconductors
Scintillation
Photographic Film
Thermoluminescence
Other Methods
Neutron Detection
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
STATISTICS
The Statistical World of Atoms and Radiation
Radioactive Disintegration-Exponential Decay
Radioactive Disintegration-a Bernoulli Process
The Binomial Distribution
The Poisson Distribution
The Normal Distribution
Error and Error Propagation
Counting Radioactive Samples
Minimum Significant Measured Activity-Type-I Errors
Minimum Detectable True Activity-Type-II Errors
Criteria for Radiobioassay, HPS Nl3.30-1996
Instrument Response
Monte Carlo Simulation of Radiation Transport
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
RADIATION DOSIMETRY
Introduction
Quantities and Units
Measurement of Exposure
Measurement of Absorbed Dose
Measurement of X- and Gamma-Ray Dose
Neutron Dosimetry
Dose Measurements for Charged-Particle Beams
Determination of LET
Dose Calculations
Other Dosimetric Concepts and Quantities
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF RADIATION
Time Frame for Radiation Effects
Physical and Prechemical Chances in Irradiated Water
Chemical Stage
Examples of Calculated Charged-Particle Tracks in Water
Chemical Yields in Water
Biological Effects
Sources of Human Data
The Acute Radiation Syndrome
Delayed Somatic Effects
Irradiation of Mammalian Embryo and Fetus
Genetic Effects
Radiation Biology
Dose-Response Relationships
Factors Affecting Dose Response
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
RADIATION-PROTECTION CRITERIA AND EXPOSURE LIMITS
Objective of Radiation Protection
Elements of Radiation-Protection Programs
The NCRP and ICRP
NCRP/ICRP Dosimetric Quantities
Risk Estimates for Radiation Protection
Current Exposure Limits of the NCRP and ICRP
Occupational Limits in the Dose-Equivalent System
The "2015 ICRP Recommendations"
ICRU Operational Quantities
Probability of Causation
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
EXTERNAL RADIATION PROTECTION
Distance, Time, and Shielding
Gamma-Ray Shielding
Shielding in X-Ray Installations
Protection from Beta Radiation
Neutron Shielding
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
INTERNAL DOSIMETRY AND RADIATION PROTECTION
Objectives
ICRP Publication
Methodology
ICRP-30 Dosimetric Model for the Respiratory System
ICRP-66 Human Respiratory Tract Model
ICRP-30 Dosimetric Model for the Gastrointestinal Tract
Organ Activities as Functions of Time
Specific Absorbed Fraction, Specific Effective Energy, Committed Quantities
Number of Transformations in Source Organs over 50 Y
Dosimetric Model for Bone
ICRP-30 Dosimetric Model for Submersion in a Radioactive Cloud
Selected ICRP-30 Metabolic Data for Reference Man
Suggested Reading
Problems
Answers
APPENDIX
A Physical Constants
B Units and Conversion Factors
C Some Basic Formulas of Physics (MKS and CCS Units)
D Selected Data on Nuclides
E Statistical Derivations
Index
