ID:
503826
Duration (hours):
31
CFU:
3
SSD:
FISICA APPLICATA (A BENI CULTURALI, AMBIENTALI, BIOLOGIA E MEDICINA)
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (02/03/2026 - 19/06/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course (first module of the integrated course of Applied Physics) aims to present to the students, in a phenomenological way and reducing the mathematical formalism to the strictest extent necessary, the main aspects of nuclear physics and ionizing radiation, limited to what may be useful for a correct understanding of the physical phenomena on which diagnostic and therapeutic medical applications are based.
Course Prerequisites
For the exam, as a strictly necessary prerequisite, it is required to pass the Physics exam of the integrated course of Physics Statistics Informatics
Teaching Methods
The course takes place through lectures (about 24 hours). As far as possible, some collateral activities are proposed: laboratory experience on the absorption of gamma rays in lead; visit to the LENA nuclear reactor; seminar on hadrontherapy and the CNAO of Pavia.
Assessment Methods
The exam consists of a written test with a threshold score (multiple choice questions, statements and short demonstrations, an application exercise), followed on the same day by a short oral interview. Admission to the oral exam takes place with at least 15/30 in the written test.
Texts
P.Montagna, P.Vitulo, D.Santostasi, "Fisica nucleare in pillole - Una introduzione fenomenologica alla fisica nucleare e alla radioattività " - ed. La Dotta Bologna, 2017
The slides of the course are available by registering on the UniPV Kiro platform, and indicate the didactic path followed, with the related topics, present almost entirely in the reference text.
The slides of the course are available by registering on the UniPV Kiro platform, and indicate the didactic path followed, with the related topics, present almost entirely in the reference text.
Contents
Starting from references to atomic physics (structure of the atom, subatomic particles, atomic radius, ionization energy, elements and isotopes), already known from the basic courses of Physics and Chemistry, the main properties of the atomic nucleus (nuclear interaction strong and weak, nuclear radius and density, binding energy and mass defect). The radioactive phenomena are then examined (nuclear stability, types of radioactive decay, radioactive activity, law of radioactive decay, energy balance of decays), also making references to scientific-cultural aspects of radioactivity that today have a wide social relevance (natural radioactivity, question of radon, archaeological dating)
The second part of the course focuses on the interaction between radiation and matter. We examine the interactions of charged particles (ionization, bremsstrahlung, range, dE / dx, LET), the interactions of neutrons (neutron capture, nuclear collisions), focusing in particular on the interactions of photons (photoelectric effect, Compton effect, production of pairs and antimatter-matter annihilation, law of absorption of photons in matter, production and absorption of X-rays and their energy spectrum).
The course is accompanied by an experimental exercise (measurement of the activity of radioactive sources, measurement of the absorption coefficient of gamma rays in lead), a guided tour of the LENA nuclear reactor, seminars relating to the main medical applications of nuclear physics ( imaging and nuclear medicine), with particular reference to those that most directly involve the city of Pavia (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy at LENA, hadrontherapy with protons and carbon ions at CNAO)
The second part of the course focuses on the interaction between radiation and matter. We examine the interactions of charged particles (ionization, bremsstrahlung, range, dE / dx, LET), the interactions of neutrons (neutron capture, nuclear collisions), focusing in particular on the interactions of photons (photoelectric effect, Compton effect, production of pairs and antimatter-matter annihilation, law of absorption of photons in matter, production and absorption of X-rays and their energy spectrum).
The course is accompanied by an experimental exercise (measurement of the activity of radioactive sources, measurement of the absorption coefficient of gamma rays in lead), a guided tour of the LENA nuclear reactor, seminars relating to the main medical applications of nuclear physics ( imaging and nuclear medicine), with particular reference to those that most directly involve the city of Pavia (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy at LENA, hadrontherapy with protons and carbon ions at CNAO)
Course Language
Italian
More information
Students for whom inclusive teaching is envisaged (see https://portale.unipv.it/it/didattica/servizi-lo-studente/modalita-didattiche-inclusive) are invited to contact the teacher, who will put them in will make available the video recordings of the 2020/21 course and all the teaching material, and will be able to organize any tutoring dedicated to them.
Degrees
Degrees
IMAGING AND RADIOTHERAPY TECHNIQUES
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
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