PHYSICS - Nucs Flashcards
Radiopharmaceutical definition
radio-isotope + pharmaceutical
Radionuclides definition
unstable radio-isotopes; decay to more stable form resulting in release of radiation
Mass number
A (for mAss); protons + neutrons
Atomic number
Z; protons
Isotopes
same number of protons
Isotones
same number of neutrons
Isomers
same number of protons and neutrons, different energy
Isobars
same mass number (A)
Gamma rays originate from…
nucleus (as opposed to x-rays which originate from orbital electron interactions)
1 mCi is how many MBq?
37 MBq; 1 Bq = 1 decay/second
SI units
Bq, Gy, and Sv (NOT Ci, rad, or rem)
Activity definition
decays per unit time
Specific activity definition
activity per unit mass; measured in Ci/g or Bq/g
Relationship between decay constant and time constant
inversely related; 𝛕 = 1 / λ
Effect of a larger decay constant on half-life
shorter half life
Effective half-life should be…
longer than the examination time
Effective half-life relative to biological and physical half-life
effective half-life is always shorter than either the biological and physical half-life
Alpha decay
release of 2 protons + 2 neutrons (alpha particle)
What is a beta particle?
essentially an electron released from the nucleus; in beta-negative decay
Beta-minus decay
release of beta particle + anti-neutrino; N => P; new element formed
Example of beta-minus decay
Mo-99 => Tc-99m
Electron capture
orbital electron captured by nucleus; P => N; new element formed; always accompanied by characteristic x-ray release
Beta-positive decay
release of positron + neutrino; P => N; new element formed
Decay type(s) with neutron excess
beta-minus decay
Decay type(s) with proton excess
beta-positive decay, electron capture
Preferred decay type with proton excess and sufficient energy
beta-positive decay (positron emission)
Preferred decay type with proton excess and insufficient energy
electron capture
Excess energy after radioactive decay is released via…
internal conversion or isomeric transition
Decay type for Tc-99m => Tc-99
isomeric transition (remember the definition of isomers)
Isomeric transition
excess energy released as gamma photons
Internal conversion
excess energy transmitted to orbital electron which is ejected => orbital hole filling results in production of characteristic x-ray or Auger electron
Decay type(s) resulting in characteristic x-ray production
internal conversion, electron capture
Nuclear reactor production
production via bombardment with neutrons
Cyclotron production
production via bombardment with charged particles
Radionuclide production - products have neutron excess
neutron bombardment, nuclear fission; decay by beta-negative decay
Radionuclide production - products are neutron deficient
cyclotron; decay by electron capture or beta-positive decay
Radionuclide production - products are carrier-free
cyclotron, nuclear fission
Carrier-free definition
none of stable element accompanying products
Parent half-life is much greater than daughter half-life
secular equilibrium
Parent half-life is slightly greater than daughter half-life
transient equilibrium
How many daughter half-lives for daughter activity to equal parent activity in secular and transient equilibrium?
4 daughter half-lives for both (per Huda)
Equilibrium type for Mo-99 => Tc-99m
transient equilibrium
Ideal time to “milk” Mo-Tc generator
every 4 half-lives (24 hours or 1 day)