how is physics used in nuclear medicine ?
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The nucleides used are chemicals that are absorbed into specific portions of the body and emit radiation primarily in these locations.
They radioactive materials used have a half life, as do all radioactive materials.
They emit alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
The aim is to find a material that is a) used by the body
b) can be made radioactive
c) has a short enough half life so that it eventually disappears
d) has a long enough half life so that we can transport it from the reactor to the patient without it decaying to nothing.
e) normally we want short range alpha particle radiation so that the effects are limited to the area we wish to treat.
Long range radiation would affect more of the body increasing the side effects of treatment.
They radioactive materials used have a half life, as do all radioactive materials.
They emit alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
The aim is to find a material that is a) used by the body
b) can be made radioactive
c) has a short enough half life so that it eventually disappears
d) has a long enough half life so that we can transport it from the reactor to the patient without it decaying to nothing.
e) normally we want short range alpha particle radiation so that the effects are limited to the area we wish to treat.
Long range radiation would affect more of the body increasing the side effects of treatment.