Ionizing radiation ch-31

The interaction of radiation with matter

There are four major categories of radiation of
interest to us
1. Positive ions
2. Electrons and Positrons
3. Photons (gamma rays and X-rays)
4. Neutrons
1. Positive ions
Example: Alpha particles , protons
Have very short range in matter
The path of alpha particle is nearly a straight line
Energy loss rate depends on the mass of ion
[E = - A mq2/2K (v << c)]

2. Electrons and Positrons

These products of nuclear beta decay
have ranges more than alpha particles (hundred
times)

 Electrons lose energy mainly by ionizing or exciting

atoms
The electrons do not travel in a straight line
When positron collide with an electron its
annihilate , producing gamma ray

3. Photons
Xrays and gamma rays are both
electromagnetic waves
The gamma ray (inside nucleus) have energy
more than X-ray (atomic processes) energy
The photons lose energy to electrons that in turn
cause ionization
Photons have a long range in matter
Photons transfer energy to electrons by three
processes :
Photoelectric effect (E < 0.1 Mev)
Compton scattering (E = 1 Mev)
Electron positron pair (E = 2mec2=1.02
Mev)

4. Neutrons
o Neutrons are uncharged and produce ionization
only indirectly
o They have a very long range in matter

o Neutrons are slowed by elastic scattering from

nuclei and by nuclear reactions
o Some of these reaction lead to proton or gamma
ray emission
Radiation units
There are four types of radiation measurements :
1) Source activity
2) Exposure
3) Absorbed dose
4) Biologically equivalent dose

A. Source activity
Is the disintegration rate of a radioactive material or
the rate of decrease in the number of radioactive
nuclei present
The unit (curies)
1 Ci = 3.7x1010 disintegration per second
1g-radium has 1Ci
The S.I unit is (Bq)
A = ln2 *n *NA / T n: moles , NA : Avogadros number
Solve Ex 31.2 P 784
Q31.14 P798

B. Exposure Absorbed dose

Exposure indicates the amount of radiation reaching a
material
Absorbed dose indicates the energy absorbed in the
material from the beam
Exposure depends on the characteristics of the beam
Absorbed dose depends on the properties of the
material and beam
Exposure is defined only for X and gamma rays with
energy up to 3Mev
The unit of exposure is (Roentgen)
1R = 2.58x10-4 coulomb per kg
The unit of absorbed dose is (rad)
1rad = 0.01 joule per kg
The S.I unit of absorbed dose is (gray (Gy))
1 Gy = 100 rad
1 R Produces 1 rad
C. Biologically equivalent dose
o The unit (rem or millirem)
o The S.I unit is Sieverts (Sv)

 Radiation in medicine
1) X rays
2) Gamma- ray Imaging
3) Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
4) Radioimmunoassay (RIA)
5) Therapy