ELEMENTI DI FISICA APPLICATA
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: ANNA MARIA GUELIExpected Learning Outcomes
Course Structure
Frontal and theoretical-practical lectures, seminars for all 6 CFU.
Cooperative teaching (student-teacher) by sharing teaching materials and multimedia aids.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Elements of Environmental Physics and Radioactivity (4h)
Origin and primordial composition. Present composition and static structure of the atmosphere. Characteristic quantities: temperature, pressure and humidity. Thermodynamics of the atmosphere. Black body radiation. Solar radiation spectrum. Radioactivity, origin and characteristics. Radioactivity measurement, activity. Radioactivity sources. Terrestrial radioactivity and monitoring. Applications.
Elements of Medical Physics (9h)
Ionising and non-ionising radiation. Radiation-matter interaction. Elements of dosimetry. Exposure and dose. Quality factor. Dose measurement methods. Personal dosimetry. Biological effects of radiation. Radiation protection. Risk factors. Medical applications: diagnostic systems and radiation therapy.
Elements of Archaeometry (8h)
Applications of Physics for Diagnostics, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage. Characterisation methods. Dating methods. Microclimatic monitoring. Case studies.
Introduction to cellular and molecular biophysics (7h)
What is biophysics. Characterization of the cell and its components. Characteristic scales of Space, Time, Energy. Thermodynamic equilibrium in the cell and macromolecules. Fluid dynamics. Molecular diffusion and dynamic processes.
Fluorescence spectroscopy (6h)
Electromagnetic spectrum and light-matter interaction. Absorption. Absorption spectra. Beer-Lambert law and extinction coefficient. Fluorescence. Background. Emission spectra. Quantum yield. Quenching. Photobleaching. Fluorescence lifetime. Energy transfer (FRET).
Optical microscopy (8h)
Optical microscope. Phase contrast microscope. Fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescent probes and labeling techniques. Confocal microscopy and applications. Resolution of the optical microscope. Super-resolution microscopy.
Textbook Information
Materials provided during the course.
Attix F.H., "Introduction to Radiological Physics and Radiation Dosimetry", Wiley, 2007
Bushberg J.T, Seibert J.A., Leidholdt E.M. Jr., Boone J.M., "The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging", Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012, 1030
Edwards H. and Vandenabeele P., 2012, Analytical Archaeometry: Selected Topics, The Royal Society of Chemistry
Oleari C., Standard Colorimetry: Definitions, Algorithms and Software, 2016, John Wiley Sons Inc
Aitken, M.J , Thermoluminescence Dating & Optical dating of sediments, Academic Press Inc.
John M. Wallace • Peter V. Hobbs, Atmospheric Science. An Introductory Survey. Second Edition. University of Washington- 2006
Alessandrini, Fisica per le scienze della vita, CEA, 2023
Phillips et al. Physical Biology of the Cell, CRC Press 2013
D. Jameson, Introduction to Fluorescence, CRC Press 2014.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elements of Medical Physics | Attix F.H.; Introduction to Radiological Physics and Radiation Dosimetry, Wiley, 2007Bushberg J.T, Seibert J.A., Leidholdt E.M. Jr., Boone J.M.; The Essential Physics of MedicalImaging, Lippincott Williams ; Wilkins, 2012, 1030 |
| 2 | Elements of Environmental Physics and Radioactivity | John M. Wallace • Peter V. Hobbs, Atmospheric Science. An Introductory Survey. SecondEdition. University of Washington- 2006 |
| 3 | Elements of Archaeometry | Edwards H. and Vandenabeele P., 2012, Analytical Archaeometry: Selected Topics, The RoyalSociety of ChemistryOleari C., Standard Colorimetry: Definitions, Algorithms and Software, 2016, John Wiley SonsIncAitken, M.J , Thermoluminescence Dating & Optical dating of sediments, Academic Press Inc. |
| 4 | INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS | Materials provided during the course. Alessandrini, Fisica per le scienze della vita, CEA, 2023. Phillips et al. Physical Biology of the Cell, CRC Press 2013 |
| 5 | Fluorescence spectroscopy | Materials provided during the course. D. Jameson, Introduction to Fluorescence, CRC Press 2014 |
| 6 | Optical microscopy | Materials provided during the course. Alessandrini, Fisica per le scienze della vita, CEA, 2023. D. Jameson, Introduction to Fluorescence, CRC Press 2014 |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The criteria for the assessment: 1) relevance of the answers to the questions asked; 2) level of in-depth study of the contents exposed; 3) ability to connect with other topics covered in the programme.
EXAM DATES. As a rule, 8 exam sessions are set for each Academic Year; Consult the Exam Calendar of the Bachelor's Degree in Physics: http://www.dfa.unict.it/corsi/L-30/esami
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
The questions below do not constitute an exhaustive list but represent just a few examples:
- Experimental measurements for colour specification.
- Dating of ceramics and sediments by stimulated luminescence.
- The role of Raman spectrometry for the study of Cultural Heritage.
- Definition of equivalent and effective dose;
- Biological effects of ionising radiation;
- Medical applications: X-ray systems, CT, PET, radiation therapy:
- Definition of temperature, pressure and humidity
- Black body radiation
- Mechanisms of heat transmission
- Atmospheric pollutants
- Sources of radiation;
- Radiation-matter interaction;
- Law of radioactive decay;
- Activity;
Characteristic scales of Space, Time and Energy in biological systems.
Thermodynamic equilibrium in the cell and macromolecules
Molecular diffusion
Beer-Lambert law and extinction coefficient
Absorption and emission spectra
Fluorescence lifetime
Quantum yield of fluorescence
Description of the FRET process
Optical microscope.
Phase contrast microscope
Fluorescence microscopy
Confocal microscopy
Microscope resolution.