Slac-153 Uc-34 Misc Concepts of Radiation Dosimetry

This monograph comprises a set of notes which was developed to accompany a seminar series on the Concepts of Radiation Dosimetry given by the authors at Stanford University during the Spring Quarter 1970. It discusses the basic information required to understand the principles of photon and charged particle dose measurement from basic particle interactions to cavity chamber theory. As health physicists at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center we are interested in the dosimetry of high energy photons and charged particles. Thus, throughout the text we have emphasized the extension of dosimetry principles to the high energy situation, We hope that the reader will gain some insight to the dosimetry of particles such as pions and muons as well as high energy electrons and photons. Because the audience was composed primarily of experienced health physicists, radiation physicists, nuclear engineers, and medical doctors, manyofwhom hold advanced degrees, the material is presented at a level requiring advanced understanding of mathematics and physics. A detailed development of all the theories involved is not included because these have been adequately covered in several texts. We have attempted to discuss the pertinent theories and their relationship to dosimetry. What we have tried to do is gather together in one place the information necessary for charged particle and photon dosimetry, citing appropriate references the reader may consult for further background or a more complete theoretical treatment. We hope this monograph will be useful to the health physicist and radiation physicist. The material in this monograph was drawn primarily from the following references: I. F.R. Attix, W.C. Roesch, and E. Tochilin, Radiation Dosimetry, Second Edition, Volume I, Fundamentals (Academic Press, New York, 1968). 2. J. J. Fitzgerald, G. L. Brownell, and F. J. Mahoney, Mathematical Theory of Radiation Dosimetry (Gordon and Breach, New York, 1967). 3. K. Z. Morgan and J. E. Turner, Principles of Radiation Protection (John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1967). In the text, direct reference to these books will be made using the notation (ART), (FBM) and (MT). Additional references are cited at the end of each chapter and will be indicated in the text by number.