Fundamental Physics for Probing and Imaging: A Label-Free Approach

Physics has reduced fear and increased safety for society, largely by extending the power to see. The methods used are magnetic resonance, ionising radiation and sound, with their extensions. This textbook expounds the fundamental physics of these. It follows how they are applied by modern technology to "seeing" in clinical medicine including therapy and in other spheres of human activity such as archaeology, geophysics, security and navigation. By taking a broad view over the whole field, the book encourages comparisons, underlines the importance of public education and reaches fresh conclusions of some political importance concerning safety. 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 shorter courses by omitting certain chapters.

Table of Contents:
1: Physics for security 2: Magnetism and magnetic resonance 3: Interactions of ionising radiation 4: Mechanical waves and properties of matter 5: Information and data analysis 6: Analysis and damage by irradiation 7: Imaging with magnetic resonance 8: Medical imaging and therapy with ionising radiation 9: Ultrasound for imaging and therapy 10: Forward look and conclusions Appendices: Conventions, nomenclature and units. Glossary of terms and abbreviations. Hints and answers to selected questions.

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.

Review :
All of us (whether students or professionals, academics or clinicians) need to engage with the fundamentals of our subject and medical physicists can do so with this book. For most of us, the going will be tough but the effort worthwhile. Scope, December 2007. 'This is a very good text for the prospective reader with a decent price tag. It would be useful for undergraduates in physics and related disciplines and those interested in medical imaging and therapy. Physical Sciences Educational Reviews, December 2007 The 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 "Medical imaging works with relatively poor images of complex objects that show subtle distinctions between normal and diseased, yet systems are required to work correctly almost every time. The only way that this can possibly be achieved is for systems to incorporate models: of physiology, and of image formation. For years, I have wanted my students to have available a concise yet readable and authoritative introduction to the basic physics of image formation. Wade Allison's book admirably addresses that need. Sir Michael Brady, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, 'Of high quality in terms of its level of discussion and the care and sequencing with which new concepts are introduced. There is a need for such a book.' David Saxon, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Glasgow