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

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.

Course readings.
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