MEDICAL PHYSICS

Expected Learning Outcomes

Understand the basic concepts of Medical Physics and dosimetry, with particular reference to the methods and instruments used.

Knowledge and Understanding

Critical understanding of the most advanced developments in Modern Physics, both in theoretical and laboratory aspects, and their interconnections, including interdisciplinary fields.

Understanding the relationship between the interaction of ionizing radiation with matter and its induced physical and biological effects.

Knowledge of the main basic elements of dosimetry.

Understanding the role of a detector in dose measurement.

Ability to measure and analyze ionizing radiation and determine its main characteristics in relation to applications in Medical Physics.

Understanding the interactions between different disciplines such as nuclear physics, biology, and detector physics.

Ability to Apply Knowledge

Ability to apply acquired knowledge to describe physical phenomena using the scientific method rigorously.

Ability to design simple experiments and analyze experimental data obtained in all areas of interest in Medical Physics, including those with biological implications.

Ability to qualitatively understand the effects of ionizing radiation of different characteristics.

Autonomy of Judgment

Ability to link the basic concepts of energy release in matter with the fundamental concepts of clinical dosimetry.

Critical reasoning skills.

Ability to identify the most appropriate methods to critically analyze, interpret, and process experimental data.

Ability to evaluate the accuracy of measurements, the linearity of instrumental responses, and the sensitivity and selectivity of the techniques used.

Communication Skills

Ability to communicate in Italian and English in advanced sectors of Physics.

Ability to present one’s research or review activity to an audience of specialists or laypeople.

Ability to work in an interdisciplinary group, adapting communication methods to interlocutors of different cultures.

Learning Skills

Ability to acquire adequate knowledge tools for continuous updating of knowledge.

Ability to access specialized literature both in the chosen field and in scientifically related fields.

Ability to use databases and bibliographic and scientific resources to extract information and ideas to better frame and develop one’s study and research work.

Lectures and theoretical-practical lessons, in-depth seminars for all 6 CFU.

Cooperative teaching (student-teacher) through the sharing of educational material and multimedia supports.

Fundamentals of radiation interaction with matter; principles of the basic operation of ionizing radiation detectors.

Attendance to the course is generally mandatory (please refer to the Course of Study’s Academic Regulations).

General Part: Ionizing radiation, natural background radiation; ionizing radiation for medical and industrial use (2 hours)

Characteristics of the radiation field: particle fluence, particle flux, radiant energy, energy fluence, particle radiance, and energy radiance (4 hours)

Interaction coefficients for photons: attenuation coefficient, energy transfer coefficient, energy absorption coefficient, interaction coefficients and cross-sections, coherent scattering (Rayleigh), Compton scattering, photoelectric effect, pair production, effective atomic number of a medium (6 hours)

Interaction coefficients for charged particles: stopping power (electrons and heavy charged particles), LET, range of charged particles, and radiation length (4 hours)

Interaction coefficients for neutrons: general information on neutron sources and interactions, cross-sections, energy transfer and absorption coefficients (4 hours)

Dosimetric quantities and their relationships: absorbed dose, kerma, exposure, charged particle equilibrium, relationship between absorbed dose and kerma, relationship between kerma, absorbed dose, and exposure (6 hours)

Quantities of interest in radiation protection: equivalent and effective dose, references to Legislative Decree 101/2020 (4 hours)

Measurement instruments for dosimetry: ionization chamber, TLD and OSLD, gafchromic and gel dosimeters, calibration coefficients (8 hours)

Applications and case studies (4 hours)

Material provided by the teacher

F.H. Attix - Introduction to radiological physics and radiation dosimetry, Wiley-VCH Verlag edition

H. Johns and J. R. Cunninghan - The physics of radiology - Charles Thomas publisher

• Characteristics of the radiation field
• Interaction coefficients for photons
• Interaction coefficients for charged particles
• Interaction coefficients for neutrons
• Dosimetric quantities and their relationships
• Quantities of interest in radiation protection
• Principle of operation of an ionization chamber
• Instruments for 2D and 3D dosimetry