Introduction to Nuclear Science

Author

Preface to the fourth edition

Preface to the third edition

Preface to the second edition

Preface to the first edition

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Radiation

1.2 Atomic Structure

1.3 Nuclear Transformations

1.4 Nuclear Stability

1.5 Ionizing Radiation

1.6 A Biological Threat?

1.7 Natural and Anthropogenic Radiation

1.8 The Chart of the Nuclides

Questions

Chapter 2 The Mathematics of Radioactive Decay

2.1 Atomic Masses and Average Atomic Masses

2.2 The Nature of Decay

2.3 Specific Activity

2.4 Dating

2.5 Branched Decay

2.6 Equilibria

2.7 Statistics

Questions

Chapter 3 Energy and the Nucleus

3.1 Binding Energy

3.2 Total Energy of Decay

3.3 Decay Diagrams

3.4 Mass as Energy

Questions

Chapter 4 Applications of Nuclear Science I: Power and Weapons

4.1 Nuclear Power

4.2 Nuclear Weapons

4.3 Nuclear Forensics

Questions

Chapter 5 Radioactive Decay: The Gory Details

5.1 Alpha Decay

5.2 Beta Decay

5.3 Positron Decay

5.4 Electron Capture

5.5 Multiple Decay Modes

5.6 The Valley of Beta Stability

5.7 Isomeric Transitions

5.8 Other Decay Modes

Questions

Chapter 6 Nuclear Structure

6.1 Nuclear Shape and Size

6.2 The Semi-Empirical Mass Equation

6.3 The Shell Model

6.4 Applications of the Shell Model

Questions

Chapter 7 Interactions of Ionizing Radiation with Matter

7.1 Ionizing Radiation

7.2 Charged Particles

7.3 Photons

7.4 Attenuation of Gamma and X-Radiation

Questions

Chapter 8 Detection of Ionizing Radiation

8.1 Gas-Filled Detectors

8.2 Scintillation Detectors

8.3 Other Detectors

8.4 Gamma Spectroscopy

Questions

Chapter 9 Applications of Nuclear Science II: Medicine and Food

9.1 Radiology

9.2 Radiation Therapy

9.3 Food Irradiation

9.4 Nuclear Medicine

Questions

Chapter 10 Nuclear Reactions

10.1 Energetics

10.2 Cross Section

10.3 Yield

10.4 Accelerators

10.5 Cosmogenic Nuclides

Questions

Chapter 11 Fission and Fusion

11.1 Spontaneous Fission

11.2 Neutron-Induced Fission

11.3 Fusion

11.4 Stellar Nucleosynthesis

11.5 Synthesis of Unknown Elements

Questions

Chapter 12 Applications of Nuclear Science III: More About Nuclear Reactors

12.1 Reactions in Reactors

12.2 Other Reactor Types

12.3 Reactor Safety Systems

12.4 Nuclear Power Plant Accidents

12.5 Fusion Reactors

Questions

Chapter 13 Radiation Protection

13.1 Terms

13.2 Regulations and Recommendations

13.3 Risk

Questions

Chapter 14 X-ray Production

14.1 Conventional X-ray Beams

14.2 High-Energy X-ray Beams

Questions

Chapter 15 Dosimetry of Radiation Fields

15.1 Percentage Depth Dose

15.2 Tissue Air Ratio

15.3 Tissue Maximum Ratio

15.4 Isodose Curves

15.5 Moving Fields

15.6 Proton and Electron Beam Dosimetry

Questions

Bibliography

Appendix A: Nuclide Data

Appendix B: Table of Chi-Squared

Appendix C: Useful Constants, Conversion Factors and Formulas

Appendix D: Periodic Table of the Elements

Index