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Clinical Radiotherapy Physics pp 135–167Cite as

Quantification of Radiation Field: Radiation Units and Measurements

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Abstract

In practical applications of radiation, the intensity of the radiation is a spatial variable, i. e., there is a radiation field. The radiation field comprises both the primary radiation coming directly from a source and any secondary emissions (Compton electrons, scattered photons, characteristic X-rays, etc.) arising due to the interactions of the primary radiation with matter. The radiation-induced processes of ionization and excitation of atoms and molecules in the irradiated medium cause the radiation effects that are observed. Charged particles such as electrons, protons, and alpha particles can ionize the medium directly; they are referred to as directly ionizing radiations. Photons and neutrons ionize indirectly by setting in motion, in various interactions, charged particles that do ionize directly. Hence, they are referred to as indirectly ionizing radiations. The purpose in radiation dosimetry is to correlate any radiation effect with the amount of radiation delivered. As a corollary, we would like to deliver a controlled amount of radiation so as to produce an intended effect.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Valley Radiation Oncology, 1301 S 7th Avenue, Suite 400, Phoenix, Arizona, 85007, USA

    Subramania Jayaraman Ph.D. (Chief Medical Physicist)

  2. University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 5750, S Kennwood Avenue

    Lawrence H. Lanzl Ph.D. (Professor Eremitus Medical Physics)

  3. Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA

    Lawrence H. Lanzl Ph.D. (Professor Eremitus Medical Physics)

Authors
  1. Subramania Jayaraman Ph.D.
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  2. Lawrence H. Lanzl Ph.D.
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© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Jayaraman, S., Lanzl, L.H. (2004). Quantification of Radiation Field: Radiation Units and Measurements. In: Clinical Radiotherapy Physics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18549-6_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18549-6_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62155-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-18549-6

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