Clinical Radiotherapy Physics

Scope of Clinical Radiotherapy Physics
A Physicist in a Clinic?
Physical Concepts and Radiotherapy
Cooperation Between Physicist and Physician
Scope of This Book
Atoms, Molecules, and Matter
Historical Origin of Atomic Physics
Formation of Atoms and Elements
Atomic Electron Configuration
Definition of an Electron Volt (eV)
Atomic Mass, Molecular Mass, and Atomic Mass Unit
Avogadro's Number
Periodic Table of Elements
Molecular Bonds
Elementary Particles
Outer Space and Particle Research
Propagation of Energy by Electromagnetic Waves
Radio Waves, Heat Waves, and Light Waves
Wave Propagation
Photons, Quanta, and Electromagnetic Spectrum
Louis de Broglie's Matter Waves
Nuclear Transitions and Radioactive Decay
Discovery of Natural Radioactivity
Nuclear Forces and Energy Levels
Nuclear Decay Schemes
Alpha Decay
Beta (ß) Decay
Internal Conversion (IC)
Isomeric Transition
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fusion
Induced Nuclear Transformations
Radioactive Decay Calculations
Introduction
Decay of a Single Isotope
Radioactive Decay Chains
Neutron Activation
Collision and Radiation Loss in Charged-Particle Interactions
Slowing Down of Charged Particles
Collision Loss
Radiative Loss
Photon Interactions
Nature of the Interactions
Attenuation Coefficient (m)
Coherent Thompson Scattering
Photoelectric Absorption
Incoherent Compton Scattering
Negatron-Positron Pair Production
Summing Up the Local Energy Absorbed
Components of m at Different Energies
Attenuation Coefficients for Mixtures and Compounds
Broad and Narrow Beam Attenuation Geometries
Photonuclear Reactions
Conventional X-Ray Machines
Discovery of X-Rays
Gas-Discharge X-Ray Tube
Features of Modern X-Ray Tubes
High-Voltage Supply and Rectification
A Typical X-Ray Circuit
X-Ray Spectra and Quality
Equipment for Radioisotope Teletherapy
Concept of Teletherapy
Radioisotope Sources
Co60 Teletherapy Machines
Miscellaneous Features and Accessories: Movement of Treatment Head and Patient Support; Optical Distance Indicator; Back-Pointing Device
Closing Remarks
Particle Accelerators
Three Categories of Accelerators
Direct-Voltage, Electronic Accelerators
Linear Accelerators
Betatron
Cyclotron
Microtron
Quantification of Radiation Field - Radiation Units and Measurements
Radiation Field
Some Theoretical Concepts
Dose and Kerma Profiles - An Interface Example
Air Kerma (kair) and Water Kerma (kwater)
Exposure
Measurement of Exposure
Use of Calibrated Ion Chamber in Therapy Beams
Air-Kerma Rate Constant for Radionuclide Sources
Instruments for Radiation Detection
Introduction
Ionization Detectors
Photographic Film Detector
Scintillation Detector
Semiconductor Diodes
Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs)
Chemical Dosimeters
Calorimetry
Basic Ratios and Factors for the Dosimetry of External Beams
Introduction
Defining the Beam Geometry
Quality of Beams
Central-Axis Dose Profile
Calculation of Dose in the Depth - General Approach
Dose to Tissue in Air
Inverse-Square Fall-Off
Irradiation Parameters
Tissue-Air Ratio (TAR)
Peak Scatter Factor (PSF)
Normalized PSF (NPSF)
Percent Depth Dose (PDD)
Tissue Maximum Ratio (TMR)
Tissue-Phantom Ratio
Dose Output Factors
Gathering Depth-Dose Data
Methods of Deriving the Dose Rate Dp at Point P