Radioactivity

History, Science, Vital Uses and Ominous Peril

Michael F. L'Annunziata

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2022
• eBook ISBN: 9780323984478
• Edition: 3
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Nuclear Physics

Radioactivity: History, Science, Vital Uses and Ominous Peril, Third Edition provides an introduction to radioactivity, the building blocks of matter, the fundamental forces in nature, and the role of quarks and force carrier particles. This new edition adds material on the dichotomy between the peaceful applications of radioactivity and the threat to the continued existence of human life from the potential use of more powerful and sophisticated nuclear weapons. The book includes a current review of studies on the probability of nuclear war and treaties, nonproliferation and disarmament, along with historical insights into the achievements of over 100 pioneers and Nobel Laureates. Through multiple worked examples, the book answers many questions for the student, teacher and practitioner as to the origins, properties and practical applications of radioactivity in fields such as medicine, biological and environmental research, industry, safe nuclear power free of greenhouse gases and nuclear fusion. Ratings and Reviews of Previous Editions: CHOICE Magazine, July 2008: "This work provides an overview of the many interesting aspects of the science of radioactive decays, including in-depth chapters that offer reminiscences on the history and important personalities of the field...This book can be useful as supplemental reading or as a reference when developing course material for nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, or health physics lectures. Special attention has been given to a chapter on the role radioactivity plays in everyday life applications...Generally the book is well produced and will be a valuable resource...Many lectures can be lightened up by including material from this work. Summing up: RECOMMENDED. Upper division undergraduates through professionals; technical program students." U. Greife, Colorado School of Mines, USA "I found the biographical accounts of the various stalwarts of Physics inspirational. Most of them, if not all, had to overcome economic hardships or p[ersonal tragedies or had to do their groundbreaking work in the face of tyranny and war. The biographies also highlighted the high standards of moral convictions that the scientists had as they realized the grave implications of some of their work and the potential threats to humanity. This ought to inspire and motivate young men and women aspiring to be physicists. Even people who have been in the field for a while should find your book re-energizing. It certainly had that effect on me." -- Dr. Ramkumar Venkataraman, Canberra Industries, Inc., Meriden, CT, USA Winner of an Honorable Mention in the 2017 PROSE Awards in the category of Chemistry and Physics (https://proseawards.com/winners/2017-award-winners/ ) - Includes new content that explains the vital benefits that nuclear technology provides and the need to be aware and involved in worldwide efforts toward the reduction of nuclear weapon stockpiles and the elimination of the threat of nuclear weapons - Provides context and insights on key research over the past three centuries, placing radioactivity in real-world contexts - Supports learning via multiple solved problems that answer practical questions concerning nuclear decay, nuclear radiation and the interaction of nuclear radiation with matter

Table of contents

• Cover
• Front Matter
• Table of Contents
• About the cover illustration
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Foreword
• Preface to the first edition
• Preface to the second edition
• Preface to the third edition
• About the author
• Acronyms, abbreviations and symbols
• Prologue A: Radioactivity/Nuclear Technology and our Well-being
• List of Illustrations
• List of Tables
• Chapter 1 : Birth of Modern Physics: from the discovery of radioactivity to the discovery of the proton, electron, and atomic nucleus
• Chapter 2 : Birth of Quantum Physics: from Planck's quantum to Einstein's photon, de Broglie's wave-particle duality, and Stern and Gerlach's electron spin states
• Chapter 3 : Revelations in Nuclear Decay Processes: from Soddy's displacement law to Pauli's neutrino in beta decay
• Chapter 4 : Discoveries on the Interaction of Radiation with Matter: from X-ray diffraction to the Compton Effect
• Chapter 5 : Era of Cherenkov Radiation Discoveries: from the discovery of Cherenkov radiation to the characterization of the Cherenkov Effect
• Chapter 6 : Era of Cosmic Radiation Discoveries: from the discovery of cosmic rays to the component particles and properties of cosmic radiation showers
• Chapter 7 : Nuclear Era: from the discovery of the neutron to nuclear fission, nuclear energy, and nuclear nonproliferation
• Chapter 8 : Breakthroughs in Nuclear Properties, Nuclear Stability, and Accelerators: from magic numbers to magnetic resonance, and the discovery of the antinucleons
• Chapter 9 : Era of Particle Physics and the Role of Fundamental Particles in Beta Decay: from the discovery of particles, advances in our understanding of particle interactions and beta decay to the structure of matter
• Chapter 10 : Basic Concepts and Definitions
• Chapter 11 : Alpha Radiation
• Chapter 12 : Beta Radiation and Beta Decay∗
• Chapter 13 : Electromagnetic Radiation: photons
• Chapter 14 : Neutron Radiation
• Chapter 15 : Atomic Electron Radiation
• Chapter 16 : Cosmic Radiation
• Chapter 17 : Cherenkov Radiation
• Chapter 18 : Radionuclide Decay, Radioactivity Units, and Radionuclide Mass
• Chapter 19 : The Atomic Nucleus
• Epilogue: the threat of nuclear weapons
• Appendix A : Particle range–energy correlations
• Appendix B : Derivation of the Lorentz transformations
• References
• Index
• A