Handbook of radioactivity analysis

The updated and much expanded Third Edition of the "Handbook of Radioactivity Analysis" is an authoritative reference providing the principles, practical techniques, and procedures for the accurate measurement of radioactivity from the very low levels encountered in the environment to higher levels measured in radioisotope research, clinical laboratories, biological sciences, radionuclide standardization, nuclear medicine, nuclear power, fuel cycle facilities and in the implementation of nuclear forensic analysis and nuclear safeguards. The Third Edition contains seven new chapters providing a reference text much broader in scope than the previous Second Edition, and all of the other chapters have been updated and expanded many with new authors. The book describes the basic principles of radiation detection and measurement, the preparation of samples from a wide variety of matrices, assists the investigator or technician in the selection and use of appropriate radiation detectors, and presents state-of-the-art methods of analysis. Fundamentals of radiation properties, radionuclide decay, and the calculations involved, and methods of detection provide the basis for a thorough understanding of the analytical procedures. "The Handbook of Radioactivity Analysis, Third Edition", is suitable as a teaching text for university and professional training courses. New to this edition: this title provides expanded chapter on nuclear and cosmic radiation physics covers all the essentials on radiation physics needed to help the reader select the proper detector for the analysis of nuclear radiation. It provides new material to cover adequately alpha and gamma spectrometry, sample preparation and detector selection, including new chapters on Nuclear Forensic Analysis and Analytical Techniques in Nuclear Safeguards. It provides new material on low-level environmental analysis of radioactivity including new chapters on the mass spectrometry of radionuclides, radioactive aerosol measurements as well as new chapters on environmental radioactivity monitoring and marine radioactivity analysis. It includes updated material on the liquid and solid scintillation analysis and sample preparation techniques for liquid scintillation analysis and Cherenkov counting. This is the only comprehensive reference book that describes the principles of detection and practical applications of every type of radioactivity detector currently used. It is a comprehensive reference for teaching and research. New 3rd edition is broader in scope including seven additional chapters on Alpha Spectrometry, Radionuclide Standardization, Radioactive Aerosol Measurements, Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring, Marine Radioactivity Analysis, Nuclear Forensic Analysis and Analytical Techniques in Nuclear Safeguards. This title discusses in detail the principles, theory and practice applied to all types of radiation detection and measurement providing a reference text useful for teaching as well as a reference guide for the practitioner.