Study Guide for Radiation Oncology Physics Board Exams

Basic Physics
SI Prefixes
SI Quantities
Constants
Physical Relations
Statistics and Counting
Temperature and Pressure
The Atom
Electromagnetic Radiation
Basic Nuclear and Atomic Physics
Radioactivity
Exponential Behavior
Activity
Half-Life and Average Life
Radioactive Equilibrium
Modes of Radioactive Decay
Atomic Physics
Production of X- Rays
X-Ray Production
X-Ray Unit
Heat Production of Diagnostic Tubes
Focal Spot
X-Ray Tube Operating Characteristics
Filters
Energy Spectra
X-Ray Image
Computed Tomography (CT)
Mammography
Therapy Radiation Generators
Kilovoltage Units
Megavoltage Units
Cobalt-60 Units
Interactions of Electrons and Charged Particles with Matter
Ionization and Excitation
Collisions
Energy Losses
Polarization (""""Density"""") Effect
Electron Energy
Interaction of Ionizing Radiation With Matter
Interaction of Photon Beam
Coherent Scattering
Photoelectric Interaction
Incoherent or Compton Scattering
Pair Production
Photodisintegration
Relative Importance of Interactions
Measurement of Ionizing Radiation and Absorbed Dose
The Roentgen
Chambers
Ion Collection
Energy Transfer
Bragg-Gray Cavity Theory
Absorbed Dose in a Medium (TG-21 Calibration Protocol)
Absorbed Dose in a Medium (TG-51 Calibration Protocol)
Other Means to Measure Absorbed Dose
Typical Dose Calibration Uncertainties
Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning
Dose Distribution
Photon Beam Correction Factors
Dosimetric Calculations
Linear Accelerator Monitor Unit Calculations
Photon Dose Calculation Algorithms
Pencil-Beam Electron Dose Calculation Algorithm
Field matching for Photon Beams
Heterogeneity Corrections
Brachytherapy Physics
Applications
Treatment Types
Source Strength Specification
Radionuclides
Localization
Dosimetry
Implant Dosing Systems
Radiation Protection
Definitions
Linear Energy Transfer (LET)
Effective Dose Limits
Shielding
Monitoring Instruments
Radiobiology
Biological Effects of Radiation
Cell Survival
Terms and Acronyms
Suggested Readings