Main description:

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.

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.