Clinical Radiation Physics I

Course Description

Focus in on the characteristics and interactions of electromagnetic and particulate radiation. X-ray production, equipment, measurement and quality of radiation produced and radiation safety.

Learning Outcomes

• Differentiate between electromagnetic and particulate radiation.
• Describe the process of ionization.
• Calculate radioactivity, decay constant, activity and half-live, average life and attenuation requirements for commonly used isotopes used in Radiation Therapy.
• Differentiate between artificially produced and naturally occurring therapeutic nuclides.
• Identify the radioactive series and decay schemes for commonly used radiation therapy nuclides.
• Describe the methods of artificial production of radionuclides.
• Describe x-ray production for linear accelerators.
• Differentiate between x-ray production from radiographic units and accelerators.
• Compare the factors that influence x-ray production and output.
• Describe the characteristics of the x-ray beam produced in the various equipment energy ranges used in therapy.
• Discuss the function of all major components of a linear accelerator.
• Discuss x-ray production in alternative therapy units (tomotherapy, rapid arc etc).
• State the gamma energies for all of the commonly used radioactive sources used in therapy.
• Explain the major influencing factors of proton beam attenuation.
• Describe the parameters of narrow beam geometry used in the measurement of attenuation.
• Calculate Half-Value Layer (HVL).
• Explain charged particle interactions with matter, describing dose deposition, energy loss and shielding requirements.
• Demonstrate use of the appropriate type of radiation detector for given clinical applications.
• Calculate correction factors for chamber calibration.
• Discuss protocols used for external beam calibration.
• Calculate direction of scatter given the energy of the incident photon.
• State the principles of radiation protection.
• State the occupational and public recommended dose limits.

Prerequisites

• MTH215
• PHS171
• RTT300