Radiation Physics Laboratory
USC Radiation Physics Laboratory is coordinated by USC Radiation Physics Research Group.
This gamma irradiation facility has a cobalt 60 therapy unit installed in a 60 m2 bunker. The therapy unit houses a cobalt 60 radioactive source of 2080 Ci of activity (as for May 2009) emitting gamma photons of 1.17 and 1.33 MeV of energy.
The laboratory offers the service of gamma irradiation of samples, tissues or electronic components. The therapy unit allows different irradiation area and dose rate configurations. Any user may request the gamma irradiation of a material or an instrument at a given total dose and dose rate. This allows studying gamma radiation effects on a certain material or tissue, or using previously known effects for sterilizing a material or cross linking a polymer for example.
The laboratory staff can calculate which the conditions for delivering the requested dose are or whether this dose is deliverable or not. The irradiation service is accompanied by a dosimetric report.
The laboratory plans to offer the following services on a future:
- Animal Radiotherapy. In collaboration with Rof Codina Veterinary Hospital Fundation (of Lugo, Spain) the possibility of delivering radiotherapy treatments to medium animals will be offered.
- Dosimeter calibration. The laboratory is planning to be credited as therapy level standard dosimetry laboratory.