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KEY POINTS
Elements are defined by the number of protons in the nucleus. Nuclides are defined by the number of protons and the number of neutrons.
The ratio of protons to neutrons determines the stability of a nucleus.
Unstable nuclei decay to a more stable state through several different mechanisms: α decay, β− decay, β+ (positron) decay, electron capture, and isomeric transition.
The rate at which unstable nuclei decay can be described by the decay constant. It is often more convenient to describe the rate of decay by the half-life.
The interaction of radiation with matter is dependent on the energy and type of the radiation, as well as the atomic number (Z number) of the matter.
Attenuation is the loss of radiation as it passes through matter and is absorbed or deflected.
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A practical review of basic atomic and nuclear physics is essential to understand the origins of radiations, as well as their interactions with matter. The nature and type of emissions are determined by the structural character of the atom and nucleus. The ways in which radiation interacts with matter have a direct relationship with imaging and radiation safety. The types of radiations and the ways in which they interact with matter are the foundation of radionuclide imaging and radiation safety. This chapter will focus on atomic and nuclear structure and the interaction of radiations with matter as they relate to radionuclide imaging.
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ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR STRUCTURE
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Matter is composed of atoms and the characteristics of a specific form of matter are determined by the number and type of atoms that make it up. How atoms combine is a function of their electron structure. The electron structure is determined by the nuclear architecture. As we have yet to image the atom, its structure is based on a “most-probable” model that fits physical behaviors we observe. The probabilistic approach is based on the model of the atom proposed by Niels Bohr in 1913. The Bohr atom proposed a positively charged nucleus, surrounded by negatively charged electrons. A neutral atom is one in which the positive and negative charges are matched. A mismatch in these charges determines the ionic character of the atom, which is the basis for its chemistry. The electron configuration is also a source for emissions used in radionuclide imaging.
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These emissions, or radiations, will be in one of two forms: particulate or electromagnetic. The origins of either type of radiation may be from the nucleus or the electron structure.
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Electron Configuration
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Electrons are arranged around the nucleus in shells. The number of shells is determined by the number of electrons, which is, in turn, determined by the number of protons in the nucleus. The force exerted on these shells, called binding energy, is determined by the proximity of the shell ...