1st Edition
Physics of Nuclear Radiations Concepts, Techniques and Applications
Physics of Nuclear Radiations: Concepts, Techniques and Applications makes the physics of nuclear radiations accessible to students with a basic background in physics and mathematics. The main text avoids calculus, with detailed derivations deferred to endnotes and appendices. The text explains meanings and the significance of equations in detail to be understandable to audiences from various disciplines.
Rather than convince students one way or the other about the hazards of nuclear radiations, the text empowers them with tools to calculate and assess nuclear radiations and their impact. It discusses the meaning behind mathematical formulae as well as the areas in which the equations can be applied.
After reviewing the physics preliminaries, the author addresses the growth and decay of nuclear radiations, the stability of nuclei or particles against radioactive transformations, and the behavior of heavy charged particles, electrons, photons, and neutrons. He then presents the nomenclature and physics reasoning of dosimetry, covers typical nuclear facilities (such as medical x-ray machines and particle accelerators), and describes the physics principles of diverse detectors. The book also discusses methods for measuring energy and time spectroscopies before concluding with applications in agriculture, medicine, industry, and art.
Physics Preliminaries
Conservation Laws
Basics of Relativity
Energetics of Photons
Energetics of Matter
Matter Waves
Questions
Endnotes
Radioactivity
Introduction
Natural Radioactivity
Radioactive Secular Equilibrium
Growth and Decay of Radioactivity
Age Determination—An Application
Questions
Endnotes
Nuclear Energetics
Introduction
Q-Value of Nuclear Processes
Beta Decay
Q-Values for Populating Excited Levels
Q-Values of Artificial Transmutation
Separation Energies
Questions
Endnotes
Interaction of Heavy Charged Particles with Matter
Introduction
Bethe Stopping Power Formula
Range of Charged Particles
Bragg Peak
Range of a Particles
Range of Particles in Mixtures and Compounds
Energy Loss of Electrons by Ionization
Endnotes
Interactions of Photons and Electrons in Matter
Introduction
Radiation Length
Photon Energy and Material Dependence of Attenuation Coefficients
Photon Energy Loss Mechanisms
Bragg’s Additive Rule
Electron Interactions
Bremsstrahlung
Radiation Length
Cherenkov Radiation
Transition Radiation
Questions
Endnotes
Interactions of Neutrons with Matter
Introduction
Nuclear Fission
Macroscopic Cross Section
Neutron Multiplication in Bulk Matter
Questions
Endnotes
Basics of Radiation Dosimetry
Introduction
Biological Considerations
Working Level Month
Specific Gamma Ray Constant
Endnotes
Radiation Sources
Background
Production of Electromagnetic Radiation
Ion Beam Accelerators
Electrostatic Accelerators
Alternating Current Accelerators
Linear Accelerators
Cyclotron
Microtron
Synchrotron
Collider Machines
Questions
Endnotes
Nuclear Radiation Detectors
Introduction
Cloud Chambers and Bubble Chambers
Gas Detectors
Multi-Wire Chambers
Semiconductor Solid State Detectors
Scintillation Counters
Cherenkov Detectors
Photosensors
Measurement Techniques
Intensity Measurements
Energy Spectroscopy
Coincidence Measurements for Energy Spectroscopy
Timing Spectroscopy
Particle Identification by Time of Flight
Emission
Nuclear Techniques—A Few Applications
Introduction
Applications in Medicine
Radiation Therapy
Trace Element Analyses
Appendix A: Radioactive Decays
Appendix B: Energetics
Appendix C: Cross Sections
Appendix D: Physics of Semiconductor Detectors
Appendix E: Websites
Appendix F: Glossary
Index
Biography
Chary Rangacharyulu