In this volume we discuss the various types of radiation interaction with matter. The radiations of primary concern in this special volume originate in atomic or nucleus processes. They are conventionally categorized into six general types as follows:(i)charged particulate particle,(ii)fast electron,(iii)heavy charged particles,(iv)uncharged radiation,(v)electromagnetic radiation,(vi)neutron.
Fast electron includes beta particles (positive and negative) emitted in nuclear decay, as well as energetic electrons produced by any other process. Heavy charged particles denote a category that encompasses all energetic ions mass of one atomic unit or greater, such as alpha particles, proton, and fission products of many nuclear reactions. The electromagnetic radiation of interest includes X-rays emitted in rearrangement of electron shell of atom and gamma rays that originate from transitions within the nucleus itself. Neutrons generated in various nuclear processes constitute the final major category, which is often further divided into slow and fast neutron subcategories.
The scintillator research is addressed in two manuscripts. C. H. Park et al. were to develop and evaluate fiber-optic sensors. The fiber-optic radiation sensor using the (Lu,Y)2SiO5:Ce(LYSO:Ce) scintillator was evaluated in terms of the detection efficiency and reproducibility for examining its applicability as a radiation sensor. I. Akkurt et al. measured the absolute efficiency; peak-to-valley ratio and energy resolution of a 3′′ × 3′′ NaI(Tl) detector were determined experimentally for 511, 662, 835, 1173, 1275, and 1332 keV photon energies obtained from 22Na, 54Mn, 60Co, and 137Cs radioactive sources. This result is required for quality control of the experimental system.
Two of the manuscripts were studied for radiation shielding materials. Neutron shielding performances of new brick samples were developed by V. V. Cay et al. As a result, neutron shielding capacity of brick samples increases with increasing FeCr slag and natural zeolite percentages. This information could be useful in the area of neutron shielding. S. Ruengsri investigated the radiation shielding properties comparison of Pb-based silicate, borate, and phosphate glass matrices. The silicate and phosphate glass systems are more appropriate choices as lead-based radiation shielding glass than the borate glass system.
There are 3 manuscripts in applied radiation physics field in this volume. The application of microdosimetric principles to radiation hardness testing was proposed by J. D. Northum and S. B. Guetersloh, Texas A&M University. J. W. Cho and K. M. Jeong test a performance evaluation of a notebook PC under a high dose-rate gamma ray irradiation. In their paper, N. D. Kesen et al. investigated dosimetry parameters in small electron beam.
By compiling these papers, we hope the scientists get important and new data for interaction of radiation with matter and related topics and the research should be continued.
Jakrapong Kaewkhao
Mitra Djamal
Turgay Korkut