NFYK13018U Topics in Medical Physics

Skills

After completing the course, the student should to receive the top grade be able to:

• Describe the sources of natural radiation and radiation generated by technical means, that is radioactive nuclei, cosmic radiation, X-ray machines, particle accelerators and neutron sources.
• Explain the basic exponential decay law, the basic algebra of decay chains, and Poisson statistics for counting of radiation.
• Describe the interaction of charged particles with matter, and the ionization processes and their dependence with the velocity of the radiation, especially as evidenced by the Bragg peak
• Differentiate between the various interaction processes of gamma rays with matter, photo-absorption, Compton scattering and pair production, and qualitatively discuss their relative importance for light versus heavy elements, and for small versus large gamma ray energy.
• Describe the interaction of neutrons with matter, scattering, thermalization, absorption and subsequent decay.
• Explain the basic definitions and requirements for measurements of exposure and dose.
• Understand the basis for thermoluminescent dosimetry, carry out and describe dosimetry measurements in various geometries (experimental exercise).
• Describe the scintillation detection equipment of gamma rays, and differentiate between the various peaks and bumps of gamma spectra in relation to photo-absorption and Compton scattering. (experimental exercise)
• Describe the basic biological effects of dose as evidenced by cell survival curves.
• Explain the connection between linear energy transfer and biological damage expressed through biological weight factors and effective dose.
• Explain the various damages to DNA by ionizing radiation, such as single and double DNA strand breaks, which may lead to lethal damages such as ring formation.
• Describe the biological effects of radiation on whole organisms, that is acute effects of large doses and stochastic long time effects of small or medium or doses.
• Calculate and evaluate the external dose and exposure from a given source, including buildup factors in shielding.
• Explain the principles of evaluation of dose from internally deposited radiation, including the estimation of effective half life, and the scattering between different organs, as tabulated in the "Medical Internal Radiation Dose method" (MIRD).
• Calculate and evaluate the internal dose to various organs based on tables of lifetimes, biological lifetime and relative absorbed dose from MIRD tables.
• Describe and explain the contributions from various sources of radiation to the dose received by the general public.
• Describe qualitatively the application of radiation for diagnostics and tumor treatment, CT scans, SPECT and PET.
• Demonstrate - through the discussion of a scientific paper - application of the concepts and terms introduced in the course.

Knowledge

The student obtains an understanding of the physical background for the interaction of ionising radiation with matter, especially biological matter and a knowledge of the concept of dose so as to evaluate the dose in actual cases. In addition knowledge about the use of ionising radiation and isotopes within medicine both for diagosis and for treatment is obtained.

Competences
The course will provide the student with a basis for judging the risks and benefits of ionising radiation, both for everyday applications in diagnostics and therapy, as well as in connection to specific incidences, such as accidents or crimal damage.
A few topics of the course provide the studemt with examples of interdisciplinary practice, drawing on results and considerations from physics, chemistry, biology and medicine.