Atoms, 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.

This fourth edition of the classic textbook has been updated and revised by a renowned team of experienced health physicists and book authors, to include current physiokinetic and dosimetric models as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. In addition, all units are now given using the SI system, making the book even more useful to an international audience, while the sections on statistics have been completely rewritten to make them more accessible.As a result, the text offers advanced students and professionals comprehensive coverage of the major concepts behind the origins and transport of ionizing radiation in matter. It covers the detection and measurement of radiation and the statistical interpretation of the data, thoroughly describing the procedures that are used to protect humans and the environment from the potential harmful effects. Throughout, the basic principles are elucidated using numerous worked examples that exemplify practical applications and each chapter includes problem sets (with partial answers) and extensive tables and graphs for continued use as a reference work.

ABOUT ATOMIC PHYSICS AND RADIATIONClassical PhysicsDiscovery of X-RaysSome Important Dates in Atomic and Radiation PhysicsImportant Dates in Radiation ProtectionSources and Levels of Radiation ExposureSuggested ReadingATOMIC STRUCTURE AND ATOMIC RADIATIONThe Atomic Nature of Matter (ca. 1900)The Rutherford Nuclear AtomBohr's Theory of the Hydrogen AtomSemiclassical Mechanics, 1913-1925Quantum MechanicsThe Pauli Exclusion PrincipleAtomic Theory of the Periodic SystemMoleculesSolids and Energy BandsContinuous and Characteristic X RaysAuger ElectronsSuggested ReadingProblemsAnswersTHE NUCLEUS AND NUCLEAR RADIATIONNuclear StructureNuclear Binding EnergiesAlpha DecayBeta Decay (beta-)Gamma-Ray EmissionInternal ConversionOrbital Electron CapturePositron Decay (beta+)Suggested ReadingProblemsAnswersRADIOACTIVE DECAYActivityExponential DecaySpecific ActivitySerial Radioactive DecayNatural RadioactivityRadon and Radon DaughtersSuggested ReadingProblemsAnswersINTERACTION OF HEAVY CHARGED PARTICLES WITH MATTEREnergy-Loss MechanismsMaximum Energy Transfer in a Single CollisionSingle-Collision Energy-Loss SpectraStopping PowerSemiclassical Calculation of Stopping PowerThe Bethe Formula for Stopping PowerMean Excitation EnergiesTable for Computation of Stopping PowersStopping Power of Water for ProtonsRangeSlowing-Down TimeLimitations of Bethe's Stopping-Power FormulaSuggested ReadingProblemsAnswersINTERACTION OF ELECTRONS WITH MATTEREnergy-Loss MechanismsCollisional Stopping PowerRadiative Stopping PowerRadiation YieldRangeSlowing-Down TimeExamples of Electron Tracks in WaterSuggested ReadingProblemsAnswersPHENOMENA ASSOCIATED WITH CHARGED-PARTICLE TRACKSDelta RaysRestricted Stopping PowerLinear Energy Transfer (LET)Specific IonizationEnergy StragglingRange StragglingMultiple Coulomb ScatteringSuggested ReadingProblemsAnswersINTERACTION OF PHOTONS WITH MATTERInteraction MechanismsPhotoelectric EffectEnergy-Momentum Requirements for Photon Absorption by an ElectronCompton EffectPair ProductionPhotonuclear ReactionsAttenuation CoefficientsEnergy-Transfer and Energy-Absorption CoefficientsCalculation of Energy Absorption and Energy TransferSuggested ReadingProblemsAnswersNEUTRONS, FISSION, AND CRITICALITYIntroductionNeutron SourcesClassification of NeutronsInteractions with MatterElastic ScatteringNeutron-Proton Scattering Energy-Loss SpectrumReactionsEnergetics of Threshold ReactionsNeutron ActivationFissionCriticalitySuggested ReadingProblemsAnswersMETHODS OF RADIATION DETECTIONIonization in GasesIonization in SemiconductorsScintillationPhotographic FilmThermoluminescenceOther MethodsNeutron DetectionSuggested ReadingProblemsAnswersSTATISTICSThe Statistical World of Atoms and RadiationRadioactive Disintegration-Exponential DecayRadioactive Disintegration-a Bernoulli ProcessThe Binomial DistributionThe Poisson DistributionThe Normal DistributionError and Error PropagationCounting Radioactive SamplesMinimum Significant Measured Activity-Type-I ErrorsMinimum Detectable True Activity-Type-II ErrorsCriteria for Radiobioassay, HPS Nl3.30-1996Instrument ResponseMonte Carlo Simulation of Radiation TransportSuggested ReadingProblemsAnswersRADIATION DOSIMETRYIntroductionQuantities and UnitsMeasurement of ExposureMeasurement of Absorbed DoseMeasurement of X- and Gamma-Ray DoseNeutron DosimetryDose Measurements for Charged-Particle BeamsDetermination of LETDose CalculationsOther Dosimetric Concepts and QuantitiesSuggested ReadingProblemsAnswersCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF RADIATIONTime Frame for Radiation EffectsPhysical and Prechemical Chances in Irradiated WaterChemical StageExamples of Calculated Charged-Particle Tracks in WaterChemical Yields in WaterBiological EffectsSources of Human DataThe Acute Radiation SyndromeDelayed Somatic EffectsIrradiation of Mammalian Embryo a