Medical Physics

Medical Physics is an applied branch of physics that utilizes physical principles and technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. It forms the scientific foundation for key medical procedures, including diagnostic imaging techniques like X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound, as well as therapeutic applications such as radiation therapy for treating cancer. A critical aspect of the discipline involves ensuring the safe and effective use of these technologies through radiation protection, dosimetry (the measurement of radiation dose), and the quality assurance of medical equipment.

1. Fundamentals of Medical Physics
   1. Introduction to Medical Physics
      1. Definition and Scope of Medical Physics
      2. Historical Development of Medical Physics
      3. Professional Roles of Medical Physicists
         1. Clinical Medical Physics
         2. Research and Development
         3. Regulatory and Safety Roles
      4. Interdisciplinary Nature of Medical Physics
      5. Educational Pathways and Certification
   2. Atomic and Nuclear Physics
      1. Atomic Structure
         1. Subatomic Particles
            1. Protons
            2. Neutrons
            3. Electrons
            4. Fundamental Properties and Charges
         2. Atomic Number and Mass Number
         3. Isotopes and Isobars
         4. Atomic Mass Units
      2. Electron Shells and Energy Levels
         1. Electron Configuration
         2. Binding Energy Concepts
         3. Excitation Processes
         4. Ionization Processes
         5. Characteristic X-ray Production
      3. Nuclear Structure and Properties
         1. Nuclear Forces
         2. Nuclear Stability
         3. Nuclear Binding Energy
         4. Mass-Energy Equivalence
      4. Radioactivity and Nuclear Decay
         1. Types of Radioactive Decay
            1. Alpha Decay
               1. Mechanism and Energy Release
               2. Alpha Particle Properties
            2. Beta Decay
               1. Beta Minus Decay
               2. Beta Plus Decay (Positron Emission)
               3. Electron Capture
               4. Neutrino Emission
            3. Gamma Decay
               1. Internal Conversion
               2. Isomeric Transitions
         2. Decay Schemes and Energy Spectra
         3. Radioactive Decay Chains
         4. Branching Ratios
      5. Radioactive Decay Mathematics
         1. Exponential Decay Law
         2. Half-Life Calculations
         3. Mean Life and Decay Constant
         4. Activity and Activity Units
            1. Becquerel (Bq)
            2. Curie (Ci)
         5. Specific Activity
         6. Secular and Transient Equilibrium
   3. Interaction of Radiation with Matter
      1. Interaction of Charged Particles
         1. Types of Charged Particles
            1. Heavy Charged Particles (Alpha, Protons)
            2. Light Charged Particles (Electrons, Positrons)
         2. Energy Loss Mechanisms
            1. Collisional Energy Loss
            2. Radiative Energy Loss (Bremsstrahlung)
         3. Stopping Power
            1. Mass Stopping Power
            2. Linear Stopping Power
            3. Bethe-Bloch Formula
         4. Linear Energy Transfer (LET)
         5. Range and Path Length
            1. Continuous Slowing Down Approximation
            2. Range-Energy Relationships
         6. Bragg Peak Phenomenon
         7. Delta Ray Production
      2. Interaction of Photons
         1. Types of Photon Interactions
            1. Photoelectric Effect
               1. Energy Dependence
               2. Atomic Number Dependence
               3. Photoelectron Emission
            2. Compton Scattering
               1. Klein-Nishina Formula
               2. Energy Transfer Calculations
               3. Scattering Angle Relationships
            3. Pair Production
               1. Threshold Energy Requirements
               2. Annihilation Radiation
               3. Triplet Production
            4. Rayleigh Scattering
         2. Attenuation of Photon Beams
            1. Linear Attenuation Coefficient
            2. Mass Attenuation Coefficient
            3. Exponential Attenuation Law
            4. Half-Value Layer (HVL)
            5. Tenth-Value Layer (TVL)
            6. Buildup Factor
      3. Interaction of Neutrons
         1. Types of Neutron Interactions
            1. Elastic Scattering
            2. Inelastic Scattering
            3. Neutron Capture
            4. Nuclear Fission
         2. Neutron Energy Classifications
            1. Thermal Neutrons
            2. Epithermal Neutrons
            3. Fast Neutrons
         3. Neutron Activation
         4. Neutron Moderation
         5. Biological Effects of Neutrons
   4. Radiation Quantities and Units
      1. Physical Quantities
         1. Exposure
            1. Definition and Units (Roentgen)
            2. Measurement Conditions
         2. Absorbed Dose
            1. Definition and Units (Gray)
            2. Dose Rate
         3. Kerma (Kinetic Energy Released per unit MAss)
            1. Air Kerma
            2. Kerma-Dose Relationships
         4. Activity
            1. Units (Becquerel, Curie)
            2. Activity Concentration
      2. Protection Quantities
         1. Equivalent Dose
            1. Radiation Weighting Factors
            2. Units (Sievert)
         2. Effective Dose
            1. Tissue Weighting Factors
            2. Calculation Methods
         3. Committed Dose
         4. Collective Dose
      3. Operational Quantities
         1. Ambient Dose Equivalent
         2. Personal Dose Equivalent
         3. Directional Dose Equivalent
      4. Dose Conversion Factors
      5. Dose Area Product (DAP)
      6. Linear Energy Transfer as a Dosimetric Quantity