MCHP (Monte Carlo + Human Phantom): Platform to facilitate teaching nuclear radiation physics

PLoS One. 2021 Sep 17;16(9):e0257638. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257638. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Some concepts in nuclear radiation physics are abstract and intellectually demanding. In the present paper, an "MCHP platform" (MCHP was an acronym for Monte Carlo simulations + Human Phantoms) was proposed to provide assistance to the students through visualization. The platform involved Monte Carlo simulations of interactions between ionizing radiations and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) adult male human phantom. As an example to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed MCHP platform, the present paper investigated the variation of the absorbed photon dose per photon from a 137Cs source in three selected organs, namely, brain, spine and thyroid of an adult male for concrete and lead shields with varying thicknesses. The results were interesting but not readily comprehensible without direct visualization. Graphical visualization snapshots as well as video clips of real time interactions between the photons and the human phantom were presented for the involved cases, and the results were explained with the help of such snapshots and video clips. It is envisaged that, if the platform is found useful and effective by the readers, the readers can also propose examples to be gradually added onto this platform in future, with the ultimate goal of enhancing students' understanding and learning the concepts in an undergraduate nuclear radiation physics course or a related course.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain / radiation effects
  • Cesium Radioisotopes / chemistry
  • Human Body
  • Humans
  • Monte Carlo Method*
  • Nuclear Physics / education*
  • Photons
  • Radiation Protection / instrumentation
  • Radiation Protection / methods*
  • Radiation, Ionizing
  • Radiometry
  • Students

Substances

  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Cesium-137

Grants and funding

The present work was supported by the Special Grant for the Development of Virtual Teaching and Learning (VTL) no. 6430120 from the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong SAR (https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/ugc/about/press_speech_other/press/2021/pr20210121.html) (awarded to K.N. Yu). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.