Introduction to radiation physics José - Luis Gutiérrez Villanueva Radonova Laboratories AB, Uppsala - Sweden Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Presentation José Luis Gutiérrez–Villanueva j PhD in Physics (U. Valladolid, Spain) j Currently working as specialist radon measurement advisor at Radonova Laboratories AB (Sweden) j Secretary of the Executive Committee and founding member of ERA (European Radon Association) For any questions or comments please contact me at: [email protected] J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . I X- rays I Some materials emit radiation I Wow ! we can penetrate our body J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . I Photographic plates can get dark in the presence of material called Uranium I It must a property of the matter itself I Such a material emits a type of radiation J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . MARIE SKLODOWSKA and PIERRE CURIE J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . A wonderful marriage I Marie: a physicist and mathematician but . a Polish Woman I Pierre: professor of Physics in Paris I Studies on pitchblende J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . Their work with pitchblende I They began separating elements and reducing sample’s size I They observe an increase on the intensity of emitted radiation I They discovered Polonium in 1898 J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 I . the Radium I It is necessary to determine its chemical and physical properties I Very poor materials and infraestructures to do the task I Laboratory: a simple shed I From pitchblende to radium: years and years of hard work 3 I 10 kg pitchblende =) few grams of radium Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . Their work with pitchblende I After separation of Plonium . emitted radiation increases more and more I It must be another element different from Uranium and different from Radium. This element emits radiation too. J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 I Very poor materials and infraestructures to do the task I Laboratory: a simple shed I From pitchblende to radium: years and years of hard work 3 I 10 kg pitchblende =) few grams of radium Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . Their work with pitchblende I After separation of Plonium . emitted radiation increases more and more I It must be another element different from Uranium and different from Radium. This element emits radiation too. I . the Radium I It is necessary to determine its chemical and physical properties J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 3 I 10 kg pitchblende =) few grams of radium Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . Their work with pitchblende I After separation of Plonium . emitted radiation increases more and more I It must be another element different from Uranium and different from Radium. This element emits radiation too. I . the Radium I It is necessary to determine its chemical and physical properties I Very poor materials and infraestructures to do the task I Laboratory: a simple shed I From pitchblende to radium: years and years of hard work J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . Their work with pitchblende I After separation of Plonium . emitted radiation increases more and more I It must be another element different from Uranium and different from Radium. This element emits radiation too. I . the Radium I It is necessary to determine its chemical and physical properties I Very poor materials and infraestructures to do the task I Laboratory: a simple shed I From pitchblende to radium: years and years of hard work 3 I 10 kg pitchblende =) few grams of radium J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . Milestones I 1903: Nobel prize on Physics: Marie, Pierre and Becquerel (15000 $ !!!) I 1906: Pierre Curie passed away in a street accident in Paris on 19 April 1906 (Crossing the busy Rue Dauphine in the rain at the Quai de Conti, he slipped and fell under a heavy horse-drawn cart. He died instantly when one of the wheels ran over his head, fracturing his skull (Wikipedia)) I 1911: Nobel prize on Chemistry: Marie Curie J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . Other names to bear in mind I Ernest Rutherford I Friedrich Ernst Dorn (1871 – 1937): (1848 – 1916): see concept of later . radioactive half-life; I Rolf Maximilian model of the atom Sievert (1896 – I Sir James Chadwick 1966): biological (1891 – 1974): the effects of radiation discovery of the I Max Karl Ernst neutron Ludwig Planck I Frederick Soddy (1858 – 1947): (1877 – 1956): quantum theory radioactivity and nuclear reactions J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . Credit J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . Credit J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Once upon a time . Credit J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 I Energies: keV and MeV I Decay modes: alpha, beta and gamma Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Ionizing radiation Radiation with enough energy to detach electrons from atoms or molecules, thus ionizing them J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Ionizing radiation Radiation with enough energy to detach electrons from atoms or molecules, thus ionizing them I Energies: keV and MeV I Decay modes: alpha, beta and gamma J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 222 220 219 radon: 86 Rn; 86 Rn; 86 Rn Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Numbers and names Symbol Definition Fingerprint Z (atomic num- The atomic number of an ATOM ber) atom is the number of protons it contains A (mass number; Total number of protons ISOTOPE atomic mass num- and neutrons (together ber or nucleon known as nucleons) in an number) atomic nucleus J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Numbers and names Symbol Definition Fingerprint Z (atomic num- The atomic number of an ATOM ber) atom is the number of protons it contains A (mass number; Total number of protons ISOTOPE atomic mass num- and neutrons (together ber or nucleon known as nucleons) in an number) atomic nucleus 222 220 219 radon: 86 Rn; 86 Rn; 86 Rn J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Decay modes 4+ Alpha decay: Emission of an alpha particle (2 He) by a nucleus Characteristics of the alpha decay mode I High enery (MeV) I Heavy particles: they can be stopped in some cm I Elements heavy nucleus 222 238 210 I Examples: 86 Rn, 92 U, 84 Po J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Decay modes Example of alpha spectrum J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Decay modes Beta decay: Emission of beta particle (positive or negative) by a nucleus. Also electron capture by a nucleus. Characteristics of the beta decay mode I Less energy than alpha emission I Longer distance before stopping I Continuous spectrum of energy 3 90 I Examples: 1H, 38Sr J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius 2019 Overview Introduction Radioactivity: fundamentals Radiation theory Decay modes Example of beta spectrum J.L. Gutiérrez–Villanueva IAEA regional workshop Vilnius