1st Edition

Physics of Nuclear Radiations Concepts, Techniques and Applications

By Chary Rangacharyulu Copyright 2014
    383 Pages 51 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    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