Basic radiation physics

Abstract

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of essential radiation physics required to understand many fundamental concepts of nuclear medicine in general and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in particular. We aimed to introduce the most important elements of radiation physics as tightly related to daily practice and routine activities performed in clinical environment. Topics covered in this chapter have discussed definition of electromagnetic radiation, atomic models, atomic structure, radioactivity and radioactive modes of decay; production of radiopharmaceuticals including medical cyclotrons, saturation yield and reactor-produced radionuclides; and interaction of radiation with matter, linear and mass attenuation coefficients as well as mostly commonly used radiation detection and measurement devices. As this is the first chapter in the book, we made every effort to cover as many aspects that might come across the reader throughout or facilitate the understanding of other chapters.