Radiation Physics- Domain 1

gamma emitters (decay)

release of gamma photons from nucleus from an unstable atom state

beta emitters (decay)

too many protons or too many neutrons and release negative or positive electron

alpha emitters (decay)

release 2 protons and 2 neutrons (helium nucleus without 2 electrons) and has a high LET

positron emitters (decay)

proton inside of nucleus is converted to a neutron and a positron is released

bremsstrahlung x-ray

electrons comes to nucleus and loses energy in form of x-ray (braking radiation)

characteristic x-ray

an electron is ejected and a less tight bound electron fills in and gives off energy in form of an x-ray (difference between the 2 electrons levels)

LET (linear energy transfer)

the more penetrating the radiation the lower the LET (alpha= high, gamma= low)

compton scatter

a high-energy photon, like an X-ray or gamma ray, interacts with a free or loosely bound electron, causing the photon to lose some energy and change direction

photoelectric effect

the emission of electrons from a material caused by electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet light.

GM meter

have a large dead time and are best suited for surveying low levels of contamination

cutie pie detectors

do not have a dead time and are good for surveying high level radiation areas

solid state detectors

also known as semiconductor detectors, are radiation detectors that use semiconductor materials like silicon or germanium to detect ionizing radiation

ion chamber

a radiation detection device that measures the ionization produced by radiation in a gas, typically air, within a chamber

NaI well

a type of radiation detector that uses a thallium-activated sodium iodide crystal to detect gamma rays, type of scintillator

Tc99m

6 hr ½ life, 140 keV, isomeric transition (gamma)

I-123

13 hr ½ life, 159 keV, electron capture (gamma)

I-131

8 day ½ life, 364 keV, beta minus

F-18

110 min ½ life, 511 keV, positron emission (beta plus)

Ga-67

78 hr ½ life, 93, 184, 296 keV, electron capture (gamma)

Tl-201

73 hr ½ life, 69-81 keV, electron capture (gamma)

Xe-133

5.3 day ½ life, 81 keV, beta minus

In-111

67 hour ½ life, 173, 247 keV, electron capture (gamma)

Rb-82

75 sec ½ life, 511 keV, positron emission, positron emission (beta plus)

N-13

10 min ½ life, 511 keV, positron emission (beta plus)

Ga-68

68 min ½ life, 511 keV, positron emission (beta plus)

I-125

60 day ½ life, 35 keV, electron capture (gamma)

Ra-223

11.4 day ½ life, 5-7.5 MeV, alpha decay

Sm-153

46 hr ½ life, 103 keV (gamma), 810, 710, 640 keV (beta), beta minus

Sr-89

50.5 day ½ life, 1460 keV, beta minus

Y-90

64 hr ½ life, 926 keV, beta minus

Lu-177

6.7 day ½ life, 498 keV (beta), 113 and 208 keV (gamma), beta minus

Co-57

270 day ½ life, 122 keV, electron capture (gamma)

Cs-137

30 yr ½ life, 662 keV, beta minus

Cu-64

12.7 hr ½ life, 511 keV, all modes of decay

Mo-99

67 hr ½ life, 181, 740, 780 keV, beta decay

C-11

20 min ½ life, 511 keV, positron emission

O-15

2 min ½ life, 511 keV, positron emission

Re-186

140 day ½ life, 939 keV, beta minus

Ba-133

10.5 year ½ life, 356 keV, electron capture (gamma)

Xe-127

36 day ½ life, 28, 172, 203 keV, electron capture (gamma)

Kr-81

13 sec ½ life 191 keV, isomeric transition (gamma)