B0846 - INGEGNERIA DELLE RADIAZIONI IN AMBITO BIOMEDICO E INDUSTRIALE T

Learning outcomes

Understand hte problems connected with the evergrowing use o radiations, in industry and in medicine. Get acquainted with the physics engineering aspects in the design and applications of devices and processes with radiations.

Course contents

I. RADIOACTIVITY - nuclei; induced nuclear reaction: reaction kinmatics; reaction Q, endo- ed esothermal reactions, thresholds; cross sections; spontaneous nuclear reaction: radioactivity; types of radiations and their origini; radioactive decay: types of decays and radiation emitted; activity; the laws of radioactive decay, statistical fluctuations; naturally occurring radioactive families; II. RADIATION INTERACTION WITH MATTER - interaction of charged particles with matter, main assumptions; loss of energy, Stopping Power, Range, Straggling; peculiarity of beta radiation, Bremsstrahlung, critical energy, multiple scattering, backscattering; interaction of photons with matter, photoelectric effect, Compton effect, pair production, Raleigh scattering; attenuation of photon beams. III. FUNDAMENTALS OF DOSIMETRY - External dosimetry: devices for measurement of radiation fields; main quantities in external dosimetry; devices for the evaluation of external doses; monitoring external doses; intro to internal dosimetry: internal contamination from radioactive substances; kynetics and compartment analysis; main quantities in internal dosimetry; overview of the MIRD methods for the evaluation of the dose commitment. IV. LEGISLATION ON RADIATION PROTECTION - Notions of legislation; administrative regulations and good practice; criminal responsabilities. Physical observables of interest: legal definition units. Main prescriptions for possessing, using, transporting, etc. sources of radiation. Dose limits for the general public and for all categories of exposed personnel; classification of personnel and areas. V. X-ray devices: basic principles and typical applications. Design of a radiology room from the point of view of radiation protection.

Part 2: mediacl and industrial applications

This part aims at giving the bases to understand radiation in the medical field and in industry. The following topics will be touched:

• Radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine and in radiotherapy
• Imaging with radioisotopes: PET and SPECT
• Production of radioisotopes: operating principles of the cyclotron and its use for the production of radioisotopes; production in nuclear reactors; other production methods.
• Radiotherapy with accelerators: operating principles of accelerators for biomedical use;
• Beam guiding and modulation strategies of the beam shape and intensity; interface with imaging devices
• Radiation protection of personnel and the public in nuclear medicine and radiotherapy: specific problems of radiation protection in these areas.
• Design criteria for cyclotron bunkers and radiotherapy bunkers; design criteria for nuclear medicine.
• Problems related to the release into the atmosphere of effluents potentially contaminated by radioisotopes, and related problems of radiation protection of the public and personnel.

Radiation in industry:

• Beta and gamma sterilization, 
• X and gamma industrial radiography,
• Radioisotopes in oil&gas
• Radiations in quality control

Readings/Bibliography

TEACHER'S NOTES;

M.MARENGO: LA FISICA IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE, ED. PATRON, BOLOGNA 2002

M. PELLICCIONI: FONDAMENTI FISICI DELLA RADIOPROTEZIONE ED. PITAGORA BOLOGNA 1998;

H. CEMBER & H. CEMBER: INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH PHYSICS, 3A EDIZIONE, ED. MCGRAW-HILL PROFESSIONAL 1996

Teaching methods

Lectures, exercises, lectures by external experts.

Assessment methods

Written exam followed by orals. The student will have to prove good understanding of the material and capability to apply it to simple practical cases.

Teaching tools

Transparencies, projector, lectures. Teacher's notes will be available on the on line repository, in pdf form. The students should print them and bring them along to class. The notes will also be available at the copy center of the school.

Office hours

See the website of Domiziano Mostacci