Description
Radioactivity: Introduction and History provides an introduction to radioactivity from natural and artificial sources on earth and radiation of cosmic origins. This book answers many questions for the student, teacher, and practitioner as to the origins, properties, detection and measurement, and applications of radioactivity. Written at a level that most students and teachers can appreciate, it includes many calculations that students and teachers may use in class work. Radioactivity: Introduction and History also serves as a refresher for experienced practitioners who use radioactive sources in his or her field of work. Also included are historical accounts of the lives and major achievements of many famous pioneers and Nobel Laureates who have contributed to our knowledge of the science of radioactivity.- Provides entry-level overview of every form of radioactivity including natural and artificial sources, and radiation of cosmic origin- Includes many solved problems to practical questions concerning nuclear radiation and its interaction with matter- Historical accounts of the major achievements of pioneers and Nobel Laureates, who have contributed to our current knowledge of radioactivity
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Alpha RadiationI. IntroductionII. Decay EnergiesIII. Alpha Particle Interactions with MatterIV. Alpha Particle RangesChapter 2. Beta RadiationI. IntroductionII. NegatronsIII. PositronsIV. Beta-particle Absorption and TransmissionV. Stopping Power and Linear Energy TransferChapter 3. Gamma- and X-Radiation – PhotonsI. IntroductionII. Dual Nature: Wave and ParticleIII. Gamma RadiationIV. Annihilation RadiationV. Cherenkov RadiationVI. X-RadiationVII. BremsstrahlungVIII. Interactions of Electromagnetic Radiation with MatterChapter 4. Neutron RadiationI. IntroductionII. Neutron ClassificationIII. Sources of NeutronsIV. Interactions of Neutrons with MatterV. Neutron Attenuation and Cross SectionsVI. Neutron DecayChapter 5. Atomic Electron RadiationI. IntroductionII. Internal Conversion ElectronsIII. Auger ElectronsChapter 6. Cosmic RadiationI. IntroductionII. Classification and PropertiesIII. Showers of the Cosmic RadiationIV. Cosmic Rays UndergroundV. Origins of Cosmic RadiationVI. Cosmic Background RadiationVII. Dose from Cosmic Radiation and other SourcesChapter 7. Cherenkov RadiationI. IntroductionII. Theory and PropertiesIII. Cherenkov Photons from Gamma-ray InteractionsIV. Particle IdentificationV. Applications in Radionuclide AnalysisChapter 8. Radioisotope Decay, Radioactivity Units and Radionuclide MassI. IntroductionII. Half-lifeIII. General Decay EquationsIV. Secular EquilibriumV. Transient EquilibriumVI. No EquilibriumVII. More Complex Decay SchemesVIII. Radioactivity Units and Radionuclide Mass
