Alpha radiation

One type of nuclear radiation, which applies to virtually all types of waves and particles known to science today, is alpha radiation. The source of this phenomenon is a natural or artificially created (induced) radioactivity. That kind of radioactivity, which is initialized and proceeds spontaneously, is called natural radioactivity and its "participants" are nuclei with an unstable internal connection between the elementary particles of the nucleus. For example, the nuclei of such radioactive elements as radium or uranium-235 are capable of spontaneously separating alpha, beta, and gamma particles. Correspondingly, the types of nuclear radiation are distinguished: alpha radiation, beta radiation and gamma radiation.

As studies have shown, alpha particles are relatively harmless to the human body, because, having a sufficiently high speed, they nevertheless have a relatively low penetrating ability. This can not be said for other types of particles - positrons, electrons, beta particles, which have a significantly greater energy potential, and therefore a greater penetrating power. Being high-frequency rays, gamma particles, have a very high penetrating power and are life threatening.

In a word, alpha radiation is a kind of ionizing radiation, which is a spontaneous or directed flow of positively charged particles that have a high velocity and have a significant energy potential.

Based on the knowledge currently available in this field of atomic energy, the main sources of alpha radiation are radioactive isotopes of substances that have the property of decay due to the weakness of atomic bonds and emitting alpha particles in the process of this decay.

As already noted, the main property of alpha radiation distinguishing them from other types of nuclear radiation is their rather small penetrating power. This effect is explained by the fact that the particles have a high velocity, and therefore they overcome the ionization path very quickly. Along the path of "following" alpha particles are able to create a significant number of ions, which, in turn, form a high ionization density.

The presence of a significant ionization density determines the biological efficiency of alpha radiation, which is about ten times greater than that observed in x-ray radiation. Such an effect on the human body is manifested in the fact that due to the high running speed, burns can occur on its surface. If alpha particles enter the body, for example, through the mouth or open wounds, then they are carried throughout the human body by the flow of blood. In this case, internal irradiation occurs.

This effect allows the use of alpha radiation in the treatment of various diseases during the procedures of so-called alpha therapy.

The physicochemical nature of the phenomenon of alpha radiation is that the ions formed during the passage of alpha particles very quickly use their energy potential, after which these ions are converted into the most ordinary helium atoms. Thus, we can talk about the occurrence of radiochemical reactions in the biological tissues of the human body. These reactions make it possible to use alpha radiation for medical purposes, because the isotopes radon, thoron formed in its course have a short period of life and can not do much harm to the body while observing established safe doses and other precautions.

The main procedures for the alpha therapy are the appointment of radon baths, the imposition of alpha-radioactive compresses on the affected parts of the body, the use of radon water, the inhalation of radon-enriched air.

These procedures have a positive effect on the state of the nervous and cardiovascular system, have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Widely known centers where the alpha therapy is actively used for medicinal purposes are resorts of Pyatigorsk, Tskhaltubo, Brambach and other places in which there are natural radon sources.