ECTS - University of Pisa
| Modules | Area | Type | Hours | Teacher(s) | |
| DOSIMETRIA | FIS/07 | LEZIONI | 36 |
|
Radiation Dosimetry
Course Description
This course covers the fundamental principles and objectives of ionizing radiation dosimetry, with an emphasis on radiological protection, the quantities of radiation dosimetry used to evaluate human radiation risks, elementary protection measures for workplace environments, characterization and proper use of dosimetry instrumentation, and the regulatory and administrative requirements of dosimetry programs in general and as applied to industrial and medical activities.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Ongoing assessment to monitor academic progress will be carried out in the form of continuous teacher-student interactions during the classes. Often, a group of students will be tasked with addressing a specific issue or problem.
By the end of the course:
Students will know how to select the most suitable techniques for radiation dosimetry surveys in specific scenarios such as: nuclear particle accelerators, industrial and medical installations.
Students will be able to perform photon and neutron dosimetry measurements with the equipment available in our laboratory.
Students will be able to present, in a written report the results of their laboratory activity carried out involving radiation detectors and check sources.
During the laboratory sessions, small groups of students will work with our dose monitoring devices and check sources in order to assess and document the exposure received by radiation workers. Students will have to prepare and present a written report that documents the results of the project activity.
By the end of the course:
Students will acquire an awareness of the environmental issues affecting the response and reliability of radiation dosimeters.
Students will be able to manage the responsibility of leading a small team performing laboratory experiments.
Students will acquire accuracy and precision when collecting and analyzing experimental data in the laboratory.
During the radiation dosimetry laboratory sessions, the accuracy and precision of the activities carried out will be evaluated
During laboratory group work, the methods of assigning responsibility, management and organization during the experiments will be evaluated
Following laboratory activities, students will be requested to submit short reports concerning the experiments carried out and the data analysis methodologies discussed.
Students should be proficient in the fundaments of atomic and nuclear physics, in electromagnetism, and calculus.
Not applicable.
While attending this course and passing the conclusive exam are not regulatory prerequisites, proficiency in Radiation Dosimetry will greatly facilitate a full understanding of courses in Medical Physics.
The course is based on highly-interactive class lectures, with visual aids such as PowerPoint™ presentations and video clips which are made available to the students.
Laboratory session take place in our didactic and research locales where students are asked to form groups, use the available didactic instrumentation, observe demonstrations of the operation of our most delicate research tools, and utilize their personal computers for data analysis.
Supporting tools and activities are regularly included, such as researching materials from recommended websites, attending topical seminars given by other teaching and research faculty members.
While the course does not have a dedicated e-learning site, a website is available from which students can download educational materials, including freely available textbooks, lecture slides, papers to revise at home.
Communications between lecturer and students, mainly occur via face-to-face meetings, email exchanges and an increasing use or social media.
The course is currently offered in Italian, with didactic materials in English.
Course introduction and overview; Atomic and nuclear structure basics; Review of radiation interactions [photons, charged particles, neutrons]; Radiation Biology; Classic paradigm of radiation injury; Mechanism of damage; Determinants of the Biologic Effects of Radiation Factors Affecting Cellular Radiosensitivity; Linear energy transfer and relative biological effectiveness; Cell cycle effects Law of Bergonie and Tribondeau; Dose fractionation Direct and indirect action; Oxygen enhancement; Radioprotectors/sensitizers; Deterministic and stochastic effects; Dose response models; linear no threshold approach; Goals of radiation protection; Cardinal principles of radiation protection Epidemiology; Risk factors; Protection and operational quantities (effective/equivalent dose, ambient/personal dose equivalent); Dose limits ;Accident/emergency dosimetry; Biodosimetry Clinical dosimetry, chemical dosimetry, gel dosimetry; Energy transfer and absorption; Kerma; specific energy desposition; absorbed dose; charged particle equilibrium Exposure, Physical and radiological quantities for neutron dosimetry; Cavity theory (small, intermediate and large cavity theories); implication for dosimetry; MacDose Monte Carlo live simulations and interpretation of results External/internal dosimetry; MIRD schema Radiation protection dosimetry in radiology; Radiation protection dosimetry in computed tomography Radiation protection dosimetry of pregnant subjects and of the embryo/fetus Thermally and optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters: introduction and laboratory demonstration Neutron dosimetry principles and quantities (albedo TLDs, superheted emulsions, rem- counters) Neutron dosimetry techniques (track etch detectors, activation detectors).
Recommended reading includes the following textbook:
Frank H Attix Introduction to radiological physics and radiation dosimetry, Wiley VCH
Students are not required to attend the course in order to undergo the proficiency examination. All materials are made available to non attending students who can also request meeting with instructor and assistants in order to address topis of interest and requests for clarifications.
The final proficiency exam is an oral test consisting of an interview between the candidate, the lecturer, and the lecturer’s collaborators. The average length of the interview is one hour and the number of professors conducting the interview is usually two. During the test, students are assessed on their understanding and critical analysis of the course contents using the appropriate terminology. The test is divided into several parts, corresponding to the various sections of the program. In order to pass the exam, it is useful although not mandatory to attend the classes and to have completed the educational laboratory activities. The test will not have a positive outcome if the candidate repeatedly demonstrates an inability to relate and link parts of the program with notions and ideas that they must combine in order to correctly respond to a question, or if the candidate does not respond sufficiently to questions regarding the most fundamental part of the course.
This course prepares graduates for employment in radiation dosimetry, at nuclear particle accelerators, nuclear power plants as well as industrial and medical radiation applications. The possibility of developing a graduate thesis at similar installations, national and international, is offered but it does not constitute a mandatory requirement.
