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R 632 Techniques in Radiation Dosimetry

students watch a reactor start up

Syllabus
Fall
Instructor Name(s): Tom Johnson
Guest Instructor: Chuck Sampier
Instructor Contact Information: Thomas.E.Johnson@colostate.edu, 491-0563
Office Hours: M-F 8:00-9:00 and by appointment
Textbook(s): G.F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Measurement (Required)

You will be REQUIRED to seek outside references for this class but you are not required to purchase these references. They are all available from the library or on special loan from the instructor.

The references include, but are not limited to:

Guest speaker Chuck Sampier is demonstrating the use of a thin NaI(Tl) detector

Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Obtain practical experience in solving applied health physics problems
  • Apply knowledge of health physics and statistics
  • Form a hypothesis, design and conduct experiments, and analyze and interpret data
  • Identify and solve health physics problems
  • Use techniques and skills, modern scientific instrumentation necessary for professional practice
  • Class Schedule
    (Note: This schedule is tentative, and subject to change, depending on availability of equipment and sources.)

    Date Day Topic Reading Instructor
    Week 1 1 Using portable ion chambers to determine dose Knoll, Gollnick Johnson
    Week 2 2 Using portable ion chambers to determine dose Knoll, Gollnick Johnson
    Week 3 3 GM Tube dose measurements Knoll, Gollnick Johnson
    Week 4 4 TLD 100, 200 lab Attix Johnson
    Week 5 5 Particle Sizing Lab Lab notes Volckens
    Week 6 6 Calculating modified DAC and ALI’s 10CFR20 Johnson
    Week 7 7 Fricke Dosimetry ASTM Std Johnson
    Week 8 8 TLD 600, 700 Attix USGS Reactor
    Week 9 9 TLD 600, 700 Attix USGS Reactor
    Week 10 10 Film Dosimetry, comparison with TLD, MDH Knoll, Gollnick, Attix VTH
    Week 11 11 Internal Dose measurement using a whole body counter Knoll, Gollnick Johnson
    Week 12 12 Performing dose estimates using basic and new references Cember Johnson
    Week 13 13 Bioassay or urine sample (C-14) Cember, Gollnick Johnson
    Week 14 14 Radon interference with air sampling, atmospheric inversions and dose Cember, Gollnick Johnson
    Week 15 15 ESR dosimetry ASTM Std. Johnson
    Week 16 16 Final Exam    

    Grading
    A = 90% B = 80% C = 70% D = 60% F = < 59%
    Activity Percent of Total
    Weekly pre-class pop Quizzes 10% (includes both oral and written)
    Lab Reports 40%
    Mid term exam 15%
    Final Exam 15%
    Summary Paper/presentation 10%
    Attendance/participation 10%

    Students observe 
 and measure tracks in a cloud chamber to determine specific ionization of various particles.

    Lab Click here to see what the students are watching

    Experiments will be performed usually in groups of two or four. You should choose a laboratory partner. For most laboratory periods there will be a brief discussion and explanation of the experiment to be performed. A quiz may also be given (probably will) at the beginning of each laboratory period covering last week's lab (or a lab in which no quiz was given). There MAY be some experiments or parts of experiments that cannot be adequately done as a group within the scheduled laboratory period. For these, you and your partner (or small group) will need to schedule a time during the week to do the work (when I am also available). The extra time spent outside of the scheduled laboratory will be compensated one way or another. In some instances, there will be weeks without labs, or small groups will alternate between weeks to perform labs due to insufficient numbers of instruments. Lab attendance is mandatory. See me if it is necessary for you to miss a lab for any reason. Labs can not be made up unless permission is obtained prior to the lab.

    Lab Reports

    Each student is required to submit a report for each lab performed. Lab reports are due one week after the experimental work is completed. They are to be handed in at the beginning of the next lab period. If a student forgets to bring in the lab report to class, it may be submitted by the end of the day (4:00 PM MST) without penalty. The report should be submitted directly to me either electronically or on paper. Late labs will be penalized one letter grade per 24 hour period late into my hands. This means if I leave town for two days and you are only one day late your grade will STILL be reduced by two letter grades unless submitted via email with a verifiable time stamp. Lab reports should be neat, organized, and concise. It is preferred that your reports be typed, except where impractical.

    An ideal lab report should consist of:

    You may work on the reports with your lab partners, and you MAY submit a single report with your lab partner BUT you will both get the same grade for the report and both names must appear on the report! Exams will NOT be given with lab partners, you must take all exams without any outside help whatsoever. For take home exams, you may feel free to use any reference materials that are available. If you choose to excerpt any information in your report, I expect you to reference it properly, especially if it is from the world wide web. Plagiarism will not be tolerated, and will be considered cheating. If you would like to reference more than a sentence or two, consider attaching the appropriate article or attaching the relevant information from the web to your report, rather than misleading anyone as to the authorship.

    This class (and labs) requires students to seek references outside the textbook. The use of reference books such as ICRP 38, the CRC Handbook, The Radiological Health Handbook, and ICRP 23 will be necessary to complete the homework problems.

    You will be REQUIRED to read assignments as well as the lab PRIOR to class and be prepared to conduct experiments at the start of class. A QUIZ may be held immediately upon the start of each class the covers the reading materials. Additional Pop Quizzes may be administered on an ad hoc basis and will be averaged into the pre-class quizzes. The quizzes and exams may be written, ORAL, PRATICAL or some combination of all three. All materials are cumulative, so exams, quizzes, labs and any other work will require that you recall and understand ALL previous materials.

    Cheating will not be tolerated. The first time you are caught cheating you will get a ZERO for the task (exam, quiz, plagiarism on a paper or any other task). Integrity is the cornerstone of all health physics and any infraction, however slight, is not excusable for any reason. If another is found to be complicit in cheating, they too will receive a zero. If you are discovered to be cheating a second time you will receive a failing grade for the class. The Course Director will make the determination if a student has been cheating.

    Summary Paper and Presentation
    A summary paper and presentation is due at the end of class. It must be typed or sent electronically and the presentation will be for the entire class. The presentation will be 10 minutes long and cover the same material as specified for the paper. The paper will cover the following:

    Information required for each system

  • Description of the basic detection process (how ionizing radiation reacts with system) and what it can detect.
  • What is the useful range?
  • What is the accuracy/precision?
  • Is there a max/min dose (or dose rate) for the system?
  • Where/how would this device best be utilized?
  • What are some limitations, advantages and disadvantages (list at least one).

  • Please notify the instructor which system you choose to present, so there is no duplication. You can choose from the following systems, or pick an additional system with instructor approval.

    Systems to discuss
  • Exo-electron dosimetry
  • Extrapolation chambers
  • Digital pocket dosimeters
  • GAF Chromic film
  • OSL
  • Bubble Dosimeters
  • Sulfur pellets/Indium foils

    Mailing Address

    Environmental & Radiological Health Sciences
    1681Campus Delivery
    Colorado State University
    Fort Collins, CO 80523
    Phone: (970) 491-7038
    Fax: (970) 491-2940
    Email: ERHSDepartment