Basic Radiation Physics as Relevant to Nuclear Medicine

Abstract

This chapter has four main components: (1) basic physics, (2) radioactivity, (3) interaction of radiation with matter and (4) counting statistics as relevant to nuclear medicine. In the first part, the atomic theory (in brief), electron configuration, electron binding energy, atomic emissions, nuclear structure and nuclear forces are described. In the second part, radioactivity is described in detail which is an important topic in nuclear physics. Nuclear stability, modes of radioactive decay, exponential law in radioactive decay with relation between half-life and decay constant and radioactive equilibrium (both secular and transient) are included. The third part is on interactions of radiation (both charged particles and electromagnetic radiation) with matter. Linear attenuation coefficient and its relation with half value layer (HVL) is duly explained. The photoelectric effect, Compton scattering and pair production and their relative contribution/importance are also mentioned. The fourth and the last part of the chapter is on counting statistics. It includes the types of errors in nuclear medicine data, measurements of central tendencies particularly the estimation of standard deviation, use of chi square test in counting measurements. Propagation of error in nuclear medicine data is explained with examples.

Most of the text has been reproduced from our contribution in the book ‘Basic Physics and Radiation Safety in Nuclear Medicine’ G.S. Pant (2nd Ed) Himalaya Publishing House, Mumbai, India, 2018.