Our group specializes in the application of ionizing radiation (and analysis thereof) to a wide variety of interrelated problems across the physical and life sciences.  Our unique resources and fusion of scientific capabilities, opens an external URL in a new window allow for an unusually diverse program of research and instruction.  Our interests include, but are not limited to, medical uses and biological effects of ionizing radiation (in imaging, therapy and space-flight), the effect (and quantification thereof) of ionizing radiation on matter and the application of ionizing radiation to trace and bulk elemental analysis of a multitude of sample types.  This richly varied work occurs at the interfaces of X-ray, accelerator and medical physics complimented by necessary competence in radiation dosimetry and nuclear and radio-chemistry. 

People

Research Areas

X-ray Physics

In X-ray physics, we specialize in the application and development of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) techniques.  We apply these methods to trace (e.g. environmental samples) and bulk element detection (e.g. chemical analysis and fingerprinting) as well as element specific imaging (e.g. of tissue and bone).

Medical Physics

In medical physics we specialize in study of the therapeutic application and biological effects of ionizing radiation utilizing accelerator beam facilities at MedAustron.  These effects are studied by experimental and theoretical investigation of nuclear reaction cross sections, dosimetric assessment (TLD), development of heavy ion transport codes, assessment of DNA damage and range verification by PET.