This book addresses the question ‘What is physics for?’ Physics has provided many answers for mankind by extending his ability to see. Modern technology has enabled the power of physics to see into objects to be used in archaeology, medicine including therapy, geophysics, forensics and other spheres important to the good of society. The book looks at the fundamental physics of the various methods and how they are used by technology. These methods are magnetic resonance, ionising radiation and sound. By taking a broad view over the whole field it encourages comparisons, but also addresses questions of risk and benefit to society from a fundamental viewpoint. This textbook has developed from a course given to third year students at Oxford and is written so that it can be used coherently as a basis for shortened courses by omitting a number of chapters.
Editorial Reviews
Review
‘We really need more books like this one’ – R. BagulaThe author isn’t afraid of equations and gives good account of those necessary to understand this growing imaging technology. We see cat scans and the like on Medical TV shows, but this is the kind of book Doctors need to get some understanding of the technology. I have in the past condemned other books for not being willing to put their equations where their mouth is: not here. We really need more books like this one and fewer dumbing down texts that insult the reader. Amazon 5 Star Review 2007, R. Bagula, USA
Book Description
This book addresses the question ‘What is physics for?’
About the Author
Professor Wade Allison Physics Department and Keble College University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3PG Wade Allison is a Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford and a Tutorial Fellow of Keble College. His own field is Particle Physics to which he has made significant contributions to experiments on Quarks and Neutrinos and to the theory and application of the energy loss of relativistic charged particles in matter to the design and construction of particle detectors. He has lectured extensively on Electromagnetism and on Nuclear Structure Physics. A few years ago with Louis Lyons he initiated a course entitled “Applications of Nuclear Physics” from which grew the particular course that he currently lectures concerned with Medical and Environmental Physics. A growing interest in this course and an absence of suitable texts encouraged him to write this book.
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