GLOSSARY
Angstrom Unit
1 = 1/10,000th microns () or 1/100,000,000th
centimeters.
Athermal
The absence of heat.
Brachytherapy
A method of radiation therapy in which an
encapsulated source is utilized to deliver gamma or
beta radiation at a distance up to a few centimeters
either by surface, intracavitary, or interstitial
application.
Curie (Ci)
in a sample of material. The curie is equal to 37
Electromagnetic Radiation
Radiation consisting of associated and interacting
electric and magnetic waves that travel at the speed
of light. Examples: light, radio waves, gamma rays,
and x-rays.
Electron
An elementary particle with a unit negative electrical
charge and a mass 1/1837 that of the proton.
Electrons surround the positively charged nucleus
and determine the chemical properties of the atom.
Electron Volt (ev or eV)
The amount of energy gained by an electron when it
is accelerated through an electric potential difference
of one volt. It is equivalent to 1.603 X 10-12 erg.
Erg
A small unit of energy which can exert a force of one
dyne (gm-cm/sec2) through a distance of one
centimeter.
The number of cycles per second of an alternating
electric current.
Ionization
The process of removing one or more electrons from
atoms or molecules, thereby creating ions.
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