Radioactivity: Introduction and History

Radioactivity: Introduction and History provides an introduction to radioactivity from natural and artificial sources on earth and radiation of cosmic origins. This book answers many questions for the student, teacher, and practitioner as to the origins, properties, detection and measurement, and applications of radioactivity. Written at a level that most students and teachers can appreciate, it includes many calculations that students and teachers may use in class work. Radioactivity: Introduction and History also serves as a refresher for experienced practitioners who use radioactive sources in his or her field of work. Also included are historical accounts of the lives and major achievements of many famous pioneers and Nobel Laureates who have contributed to our knowledge of the science of radioactivity.
* Provides entry-level overview of every form of radioactivity including natural and artificial sources, and radiation of cosmic origin.
* Includes many solved problems to practical questions concerning nuclear radiation and its interaction with matter
* Historical accounts of the major achievements of pioneers and Nobel Laureates, who have contributed to our current knowledge of radioactivity

Michael F. L'Annunziata earned his undergraduate B.Sc. degree in Chemistry in 1965 from St. Edward's University and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in 1967 and 1970 at the University of Arizona. His graduate thesis research in the 1960s was carried out under a research contract with the then U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (U.S. AEC). The research work dealt with the analysis of radionuclides and chemical remediation of the environment in the event of possible nuclear war and fission product fallout. His main research interests have been focused on the development of chemical and instrumental methods for the detection and measurement of radioactive nuclides and the utilization of radionuclides as tracers in biological research. L'Annunziata was formerly Head of Fellowships and Training at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria; and he has served as a representative for the IAEA in fact-finding, planning, and implementation assignments on peaceful applications of nuclear energy for development in over 50 countries of the world from 1976 to 2007. He is the author and editor of several books including 'Radionuclide Tracers, Their Detection and Measurement” published in 1987 and the 'Handbook of Radioactivity Analysis” now in its third edition published in 2012. His more lengthy biography has been included in the annual editions of 'Who's Who in the World” from 1987 to 2016.