PHYC40110

This course is designed to provide an introduction to some of the medical applications of physics, including MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound, lasers and radiotherapy. The lectures include a review of the main interaction processes of high energy photons and charged particles in tissue equivalent material and a section on the use of ionizing radiation to image human anatomy using Nuclear Medicine and Computed Tomography scan techniques. Devices, such as X-ray tubes and linear accelerators, required for the production of high energy particles and photons for use in diagnostic and radiation therapy applications, are presented. Accurate calibration of these devices, in terms of absorbed dose, is discussed using the concept of electronic equilibrium, and a description of the parameters and detector systems employed is also provided. An account is provided of how imaging data and radiation beam models are used in combination to calculate dose delivery with a view to the treatment of human cancers by radiotherapy. Finally, a concise overview is given of the philosophy underlining modern radiation protection practice, with emphasis on practitioners, patients and the public alike. Guided visits to appropriate medical centers will also form part of the student experience.