Semester 1

Unit(s) of Assessment Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)
Closed book examination 50 %
Coursework 50%
Part-time Students: Same as for full time students
Qualifying Condition(s): None

This module is assessed in three separate units of assessment: 50% of the marks of the 30 module credits are awarded for Paper 1 which will consist of 6 questions from which students answer 4 questions from 6. 

The remaining 50% of the module marks will come from (a) the assessment of 4 marked laboratory experimental reports from work carried out in the radiation laboratory which make up 40% of the total module mark; and (b) a class test on the statistics and related laboratory skills which will make up 10% of the final module mark.

After completing this module, the student should be able to:-

Module Specific Skills:

Systematic understanding of the fundamental processes involved with the interaction of X- and gamma-ray photons, charged particles and neutrons with matter

Critical analysis and self-directed problem solving of the practical aspects of handling radioactive substances and the ability to extract qualitative and quantitative information about the emitted radiations

 Understand basic evaluation of experimental data using standard statistical methods

 Discipline Specific Skills:

Confidence in handling radioactive materials

Application of statistical analysis techniques to specialised radiometric data through appropriate software tools

Application of skills in an experimental context for the measurement for various radiation emissions in terms of both dosimetry and spectroscopy

 Perform a detailed investigation of radiation sources and their interactions in media

Personal and Key Skills:

Maintain a laboratory diary at a level appropriate of a professional scientist

 Critically analyse and summarise data

Provide concise and accurate reporting of findings, including limitations resulting from an appreciation of equipment capability and the availability of calibration standards

Lecturer	Title	Lecture	Lab
		Hours	Hours
Dr D A Bradley	Atomic physics: Bohr model, Pauli Exclusion Principle, de Broglie hypothesis, Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, electronic structure of atom, x-ray spectra; Moseley’s law, x-ray fluorescence and x-ray fluorescence yield, Auger electrons. Experimental evidence for size of nucleus;                           Rutherford scattering, nuclear systematics, nuclear binding energy. Systematic study of nuclear binding energy: Von Weizsäcker Semi-Empirical Mass Formula and Liquid Drop Model, beta decay, energy released during fission of heavy nuclei; Shell Model, Woods-Saxon potential, spin-orbit interaction, Collective-Shell Model. Optical model.                           Theory of alpha and beta decay; Geiger-Nuttall Law, electron capture. Gamma emissions. Coulomb scattering. Nuclear reactions and kinematics. Breit-Wigner Formula. Fission. Radioactive decay through a chain. Production of radionuclides.	18
Dr Z Podolyak	Interactions of radiation with matter, photons, neutrons and charged particles. Attenuation coefficients and the Mixture Rule. Concept of neutron flux and cross-section; the neutron spectrum.  The interaction of electrons (and other charged particles) with matter; elastic and inelastic processes, bremsstrahlung and radiative yield, energy dependence.  Measurement of radioactivity and standards.                           Introduction to radiation detectors, describing the basic function and operation of semiconductor, scintillator and gas detectors, counting statistics, dead time and energy resolution.	9
Prof P H Regan	Introduction to dosimetry measurements, air ionisation chambers, use of absolute standards, calculation of exposure, absorbed dose, and dose rate. Basic biological effects of radiation.	3
Prof P H Regan                           Prof W N Catford                           Prof P J Sellin                           Dr Z Podolyak	Radiation Laboratory experiments.                           Laboratory demonstrations and safety instruction                           Scripted experiments that students undertake in pairs, one per week.  Students undertake 10 one week experiments selected from a range of possible topics.		60
Prof B M Murdin	General Laboratory skills. In particular basic statistical analysis, error analysis, errors on the mean, weighted means, binomial, normal and Poisson distributions, least squares fitting.	10

The remaining 50% of the module marks will come from (a) the assessment of 4 marked laboratory experimental reports from work carried out in the radiation laboratory which make up 40% of the total module mark; and (b) a class test on the statistics and related laboratory skills which will make up 10% of the final module mark.

1. “Nuclear & Particle Physics”, Blin-Stoyle, R.J., Chapman & Hall (ISBN 0-412-38320-9)
2. “Nuclear Physics: Principles and Applications”, Lilley, J., John Wiley & Sons, 2001
ISBN 0-471-97935)
3. Radiation Laboratory manuals, University of Surrey
4. “Radiation Detection and Measurement”, Knoll, G.F., John Wiley & Sons, 4th Edition 2010. 1999 Practical Radiation Monitoring, Measurement Good Practice Guide, The NPL, 2002. ISSN 1368-6550
5. “Introduction to Radiological Physics and Radiation Dosimetry”, Frank Herber Attix, Wiley-Interscience Publication, 1986 New York
6. “Introductory Nuclear Physics”, Krane, K.S., John Wiley & Sons, 1988 New York
7. ‘’Introduction to Health Physics, fourth edition’’, Herman Cember and Thomas E.
Johnson, ISBN 978-0-07-142308-3

9 December 2010