This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

Readings

This page presents the readings by session, as well as some additional reading materials.

Nuclear Power in Space (PDF) (Courtesy of the U.S. Dept. of Energy.)

Spacecraft Power for Cassini (PDF) (Courtesy of NASA.)

Lecture Notes on "Well Logging" by S. Yip (PDF)

Kehayias, Joseph J., and Silvia Valtueña. "Neutron Activation Analysis Determination of Body Composition." Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care 2 (1999): 453-463.

Halperin, Edward C. "Particle Therapy and Treatment of Cancer." Lancet Oncol 7 (2006): 676-685.

Required Text

Buy at Amazon Turner, J. E. Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection. 2nd ed. New York, NY: J. Wiley, 1995. ISBN: 9780471595816.

Readings by Session

All chapter-based assignments are taken from the Turner text.

LEC # TOPICS Readings
1 Course Introduction/Radiation History/Fundamentals of the Atom

Chapters 1, 2.1-2.4, and 2.10.

Lecture Notes

2 Binding Energy and Nuclear Instability Chapters 3.1 and 3.2.
3

Binding Energy (cont.)

Alpha Decay

Chapter 3.3.
4 Beta Decay Chapter 3.4.
5 Gamma Decay Chapters 3.5-3.8.
6 Activity and Exponential Decay Chapter 4.
7 Radiological Dating Lecture Notes
8 Radiation Interactions: Heavy Charged Particles Chapter 5.
9 Exam 1  
10 Radiation Interactions: Light Charged Particles Chapter 6.
11 Radiation Interactions: Photons Chapter 8.
12 Radiation Interactions: Neutrons, Neutron Sources Chapter 9.
13 Radiation Detection/Absorbed Dose Chapters 10 and 12.
14 Absorbed Dose/Radiation Units Chapter 12.
15 Charged Particle Tracks/Radiation Chemistry Chapters 7 and 13.1-13.5.
16 Biological Effects/Cell Survival Curves

Chapters 13.6, 13.12, and 3.13.

Lecture Notes

17 Exam 2  
18 Reactor Tour  
19 Background Radiation/Radon

Chapters 4.5-4.6.

Lecture Notes

20 The Radiation Environment in Space

Lecture Notes

21 Radiation Effects in Materials  
22 Biological Effects/Radiation Therapy Chapters 13.7-13.11.
23 Medical Imaging: PET/SPECT/X Rays

Lecture Notes

24 "Radiation Controversies": Class Discussion  
25 Radiation Therapy: Protons  
26 Radiological Terrorism

Lecture Notes