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Microdosimetry, second symposium, Stresa, Italy, 1969
International Journal of Applied R a d i a t o n a n d Isotopes, 1971, Vol. 22, p. 637. Pergamon Press. Printed in Northern Ireland
"flux density", although kerma per unit time is more understandably defined as "kerma rate". Purists could like uniformity in such matters. Neutron Fluence, Neutron Spectra and Kerma. Experimentalists may be disappointed by the I C R U . Report 13. I C R U Publications, Washing- absence of discussion of theoretical or experimental ton, D.C., 1969. 57 pp. $3. values for fluence to kerma conversions for broad neutron spectra (two references are given). Although THIS report constitutes an authoritative presentation it is not within the scope of this report, one would of best practices for a circumscribed area of radiation hope that sometime there would be a report on measurement. It is one of a series of reports, pre- measurement and specification of radiation quality or pared under the auspices of the International LET, which is often considered a prime parameter in Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, neutron radiobiology. which serve to set world standards for measurements A common weakness of these reports from the of ionizing radiations. In part, it updates NBS pedagogical standpoint is the statement of empirically Handbooks 72, 75 and 85. Each new report (13 based relations, unfounded on solid theory such as have been published since 1950), one hopes, will Eq. 111.3, and physically derived relations such as represent the final position on the topics discussed; IV.6, with equal solemnity. A few small factual errors but despite the continuous conceptual development, were detected. Amazingly enough, the composition clarification of terminology, and improvement of of lucite, (CsHsO=)~,, is given incorrectly in Table techniques, which these reports faithfully incorporate, IV.3, exactly as it was in my 1957 paper and in the definitive reports are yet to be written. The Bach and Caswell's extended calculation in 1968, present valuable report follows the pattern. although in both cases calculations were done for the In Report 13 the characterization, effects, and correct composition! Such examples illustrate the detection of neutrons with energies 0.0025 eV-20 persistence of errors in the literature and emphasize MeV are considered in an orderly way (higher the need every worker has to check everything he energies are to be treated later). The exposition on uses for himself. neutron spectroscopy and on interaction of neutrons Undoubtedly, for many workers this report will with matter is entirely phenomenological and is be found to illuminate the subjects treated, to accurate, adequate for the intended purpose, and stimulate work in certain areas, and to be useful as a clear. Instrumentation is covered more by discussion reference standard. of principles and references than by detailed analyses M. L. RANDOLPH of particular devices. For the reader the most valuable feature is the direction to selected references. In common with some other members of this series, this report relies considerably on the one-third of the International Journal of Applled Radiation and Isotopes, 1971, Vol. 22, 230 references which relate to symposium articles p p . 637--638. Pergamon Press. Printed in Northern Ireland and numbered reports rather than to refereed journal articles. Possibly this is the best that can be done Mlcrodoslmetry, Second Symposium, Stresa, now, but ultimately primary reliance should be I t a l y . 1969. (Ed. H. G. EBE~T), Commission of placed on work published in the most reputable European Communities, Brussels, 1970. 867 pp. journals. The literature surveyed apparently ended $16.00. early in 1968. The adoption of Bach and Caswell's tables on THESE proceedings of the second Euratom symposium conversions from neutron fluence to kerma, the on microdosimetry should be of value to those who section on variations in kerma at boundaries between want to keep up with the rapidly changing concepts different media, and numerous recommendations for and methods of measuring radiation absorbed dose needed work are notable features of this report. That in small volumes and in the vicinity of ionizing partproblems of appropriate terminology persist is in- icle tracks. There were nearly half as many papers as dicated by only belated reference to SI units on page the 100 or so participants of the symposium, and, in 26 and by the definition of fluence per unit time as my judgement, the overall quality is high. This 637
638
BOOK REVIEWS
speaks well for the level of interest in this field now so important, especially to radiation biologists. One of the merits of the book is the inclusion of discussion remarks at the end of each article. An improvement over the earlier volume is the reduction in size by about one-half without loss of content. To the credit of authors and editor alike, publication was surprisingly prompt. This was facilitated by the direct reproduction of the typed manuscripts and figures, and yet the texts are remarkably legible and free of errors. There is some justifiable soul-searching by some authors about the use of the word "microdosimetry" when trying to relate in a meaningful way statistics from ionization measurements in a large, reducedpressure gas volume to energy deposition in very
small volumes of biological solids and liquids. The summarizing speaker of the symposium facetiously suggested that, as the field develops further, the name should progress from microdosimetry to picodosimetry. I n a more serious tone he implied correctly that entirely new experimental approaches will be needed to decipher the details of particle track structure in a living cell. A useful appendix to the book is an article by A. M. Kellerer and H. H. Rossi summarizing new changes in the terminology of quantities and functions in line with forthcoming recommendations by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements. W. L. McLAUGHLIN
"flux density", although kerma per unit time is more understandably defined as "kerma rate". Purists could like uniformity in such matters. Neutron Fluence, Neutron Spectra and Kerma. Experimentalists may be disappointed by the I C R U . Report 13. I C R U Publications, Washing- absence of discussion of theoretical or experimental ton, D.C., 1969. 57 pp. $3. values for fluence to kerma conversions for broad neutron spectra (two references are given). Although THIS report constitutes an authoritative presentation it is not within the scope of this report, one would of best practices for a circumscribed area of radiation hope that sometime there would be a report on measurement. It is one of a series of reports, pre- measurement and specification of radiation quality or pared under the auspices of the International LET, which is often considered a prime parameter in Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, neutron radiobiology. which serve to set world standards for measurements A common weakness of these reports from the of ionizing radiations. In part, it updates NBS pedagogical standpoint is the statement of empirically Handbooks 72, 75 and 85. Each new report (13 based relations, unfounded on solid theory such as have been published since 1950), one hopes, will Eq. 111.3, and physically derived relations such as represent the final position on the topics discussed; IV.6, with equal solemnity. A few small factual errors but despite the continuous conceptual development, were detected. Amazingly enough, the composition clarification of terminology, and improvement of of lucite, (CsHsO=)~,, is given incorrectly in Table techniques, which these reports faithfully incorporate, IV.3, exactly as it was in my 1957 paper and in the definitive reports are yet to be written. The Bach and Caswell's extended calculation in 1968, present valuable report follows the pattern. although in both cases calculations were done for the In Report 13 the characterization, effects, and correct composition! Such examples illustrate the detection of neutrons with energies 0.0025 eV-20 persistence of errors in the literature and emphasize MeV are considered in an orderly way (higher the need every worker has to check everything he energies are to be treated later). The exposition on uses for himself. neutron spectroscopy and on interaction of neutrons Undoubtedly, for many workers this report will with matter is entirely phenomenological and is be found to illuminate the subjects treated, to accurate, adequate for the intended purpose, and stimulate work in certain areas, and to be useful as a clear. Instrumentation is covered more by discussion reference standard. of principles and references than by detailed analyses M. L. RANDOLPH of particular devices. For the reader the most valuable feature is the direction to selected references. In common with some other members of this series, this report relies considerably on the one-third of the International Journal of Applled Radiation and Isotopes, 1971, Vol. 22, 230 references which relate to symposium articles p p . 637--638. Pergamon Press. Printed in Northern Ireland and numbered reports rather than to refereed journal articles. Possibly this is the best that can be done Mlcrodoslmetry, Second Symposium, Stresa, now, but ultimately primary reliance should be I t a l y . 1969. (Ed. H. G. EBE~T), Commission of placed on work published in the most reputable European Communities, Brussels, 1970. 867 pp. journals. The literature surveyed apparently ended $16.00. early in 1968. The adoption of Bach and Caswell's tables on THESE proceedings of the second Euratom symposium conversions from neutron fluence to kerma, the on microdosimetry should be of value to those who section on variations in kerma at boundaries between want to keep up with the rapidly changing concepts different media, and numerous recommendations for and methods of measuring radiation absorbed dose needed work are notable features of this report. That in small volumes and in the vicinity of ionizing partproblems of appropriate terminology persist is in- icle tracks. There were nearly half as many papers as dicated by only belated reference to SI units on page the 100 or so participants of the symposium, and, in 26 and by the definition of fluence per unit time as my judgement, the overall quality is high. This 637
638
BOOK REVIEWS
speaks well for the level of interest in this field now so important, especially to radiation biologists. One of the merits of the book is the inclusion of discussion remarks at the end of each article. An improvement over the earlier volume is the reduction in size by about one-half without loss of content. To the credit of authors and editor alike, publication was surprisingly prompt. This was facilitated by the direct reproduction of the typed manuscripts and figures, and yet the texts are remarkably legible and free of errors. There is some justifiable soul-searching by some authors about the use of the word "microdosimetry" when trying to relate in a meaningful way statistics from ionization measurements in a large, reducedpressure gas volume to energy deposition in very
small volumes of biological solids and liquids. The summarizing speaker of the symposium facetiously suggested that, as the field develops further, the name should progress from microdosimetry to picodosimetry. I n a more serious tone he implied correctly that entirely new experimental approaches will be needed to decipher the details of particle track structure in a living cell. A useful appendix to the book is an article by A. M. Kellerer and H. H. Rossi summarizing new changes in the terminology of quantities and functions in line with forthcoming recommendations by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements. W. L. McLAUGHLIN