This book, designed as a textbook for a senior undergraduate or first-year graduate course in radiation biophysics, assumes an acquaintance with elementary calculus and contains problems and suggested readings as well as annotated references at the end of each chapter. The first edition was published in 1990. Written for a one-semester course on the subject, the book progresses from a discussion of physical interactions of radiation to the radiochemical interactions and the biological sequelae. It finishes by considering the late effects of ionizing radiation on organized living systems, in particular humans. The author's intention is to cover these topics at a depth sufficient to yield a thorough understanding of each of the topics. The book meets the author's intent very well. I reviewed the first edition of the text for a journal in the discipline of radiation biophysics, and I have referred to the text many times over the past six years. It is intended primarily for students in disciplines such as radiation biology, health physics, medical physics, and radiation chemistry. The author also suggests that it will be useful as a desk reference for practitioners in those disciplines. As a teacher, I have found the latter purpose admirably served by the book. The author is an internationally-known expert in the field. The book is very nicely laid out. It is easy to read and contains extensive author and subject indexes. The illustrations, principally line drawings, are uniformly good. Annotated references at the end of each chapter are up-to-date and helpful. The material has been updated, discussions have been added on topics such as the acute radiation syndrome in humans,and expanded on topics such as neutron interactions in tissue, effects of high-LET radiation, and the induction of cancer in humans by radiation. SI units are used throughout the text. In my review of the first edition of this text, I pointed out the need for an up-to-date textbook on the topic of radiation biophysics and commented on how well the text satisfied this need. This second edition is improved over the first edition in both appearance and completeness. Courses in this subject are less popular today than they were a few years ago when ionizing radiation was of greater scientific concern. But for the courses in radiation biophysics that remain, and the students who are enrolled in them, this textbook is highly recommended.
Updated from the 1990 edition by Alpen (biophysics, U. of California, Berkeley), this reference for scientists and text for advanced undergraduate/graduate students in the radiological sciences and health physics provides multidisciplinary coverage of the fundamentals of radiation biophysics. Topics covered include: interaction of radiation with matter, energy transfer processes, radiation chemistry, theories and models for cell survival, and stochastic and nonstochastic effects. Expanded coverage is provided of: neutron interactions in tissue and high LET effects and cancer. Includes a table on physical constants and conversion factors. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Praise for the Second Edition "...the book is well written. One of the attractive parts of the book is that as a single authored volume it is coherent from beginning to end... The book is highly recommended as a text in radiation biophysics and as a reference source for those who are working in closely related areas." —RADIATION RESEARCH
Praise for the First Edition: "Radiation Biophysics is a comprehensive textbook that bridges the gap between radiation physics and radiation biology by integrating these fields rather than focusing on one or the other... Radiation Biophysics brings together diverse subject matter in a cogent yet highly readable manner, reflecting the extensive experience of the author as a teacher of this material. The book should also, however, find utility beyond the classroom." —SCIENCE
"I reviewed the first edition of the text for a journal in the discipline of radiation biophysics, and I have referred to the text many times over the past six years... The book is very nicely laid out. It is easy to read and contains extensive author and subject indexes. The illustrations, principally line drawings, are uniformly good... This second edition is improved over the first edition in both appearance and completeness." —William R. Hendee, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin, for DOODY'S PUBLISHING REVIEWS
Reviewer: William R. Hendee, PhD (Medical College of Wisconsin)
Description: This book, designed as a textbook for a senior undergraduate or first-year graduate course in radiation biophysics, assumes an acquaintance with elementary calculus and contains problems and suggested readings as well as annotated references at the end of each chapter. The first edition was published in 1990.
Purpose: Written for a one-semester course on the subject, the book progresses from a discussion of physical interactions of radiation to the radiochemical interactions and the biological sequelae. It finishes by considering the late effects of ionizing radiation on organized living systems, in particular humans. The author's intention is to cover these topics at a depth sufficient to yield a thorough understanding of each of the topics. The book meets the author's intent very well. I reviewed the first edition of the text for a journal in the discipline of radiation biophysics, and I have referred to the text many times over the past six years.
Audience: It is intended primarily for students in disciplines such as radiation biology, health physics, medical physics, and radiation chemistry. The author also suggests that it will be useful as a desk reference for practitioners in those disciplines. As a teacher, I have found the latter purpose admirably served by the book. The author is an internationally-known expert in the field.
Features: The book is very nicely laid out. It is easy to read and contains extensive author and subject indexes. The illustrations, principally line drawings, are uniformly good. Annotated references at the end of each chapter are up-to-date and helpful. The material has been updated, discussions have been added on topics such as the acute radiation syndrome in humans, and expanded on topics such as neutron interactions in tissue, effects of high-LET radiation, and the induction of cancer in humans by radiation. SI units are used throughout the text.
Assessment: In my review of the first edition of this text, I pointed out the need for an up-to-date textbook on the topic of radiation biophysics and commented on how well the text satisfied this need. This second edition is improved over the first edition in both appearance and completeness. Courses in this subject are less popular today than they were a few years ago when ionizing radiation was of greater scientific concern. But for the courses in radiation biophysics that remain, and the students who are enrolled in them, this textbook is highly recommended.
