Aiming at a BreakthroughDivision Activities of Radiation Science

Present and Future Viewsof Division of Radiation Science
Toshiyuki Iida
Chief, Division of Radiation ScienceThis report introduces the Division of Radiation Science (URL: http://annex.jsap.or. jp/radiation/), which is the second oldest among theten divisions in the Japan Society of Applied Physics: Optics, Radiation
Science, Solid State Physics and Applications, Thin Film and Surface
Physics, Materials Science and Crystal Technology, Education in Applied Physics, Superconductors, Organic Molecular Electronics and Bioelectronics, Plasma Electronics, and Silicon Technology. This Divisionwas established in 1957 to support research activities on radiation
science and its applications and it has sponsored many symposiums,conferences, and lecture meetings and conducted tours and otheractivities on radiation science and technology. Since 1974, the quarterly bulletin “Ionizing Radiation” has been distributed to all of the400+ members of the Division.
In 2000, the following typical meetings and functions were held
under the auspices of the Division of Radiation Science. A symposium
on radiation technology focusing on environment problems was organized and implemented by the Division in the spring, and anothersymposium on fundamental radiation physics concerning the production of light and sound for new radiation detection was held in theautumn. Also, a commemorative lecture meeting in celebration ofthe 7th Radiation Prize was held during the 12th summer school onradiation science, conducted at a beautiful site at the foot of Mt.
Kiso-Ontake. Moreover, the Division provided the general public witha festival on radiation science in cooperation with the Hokkaido branchof the Japan Society of Applied Physics and the Division of Educationin Applied Physics. A catchphrase during the festival was “Let’s feelthe invisible light and messages from the cosmos”. Various ingenious
contrivances were introduced in exhibitions, demonstrations, educational games, and other entertainments so that attendees were able
to understand invisible light, i.e. radiation, in a pleasant and enjoyable manner. The two-day festival at Hokkaido University was a great
success with 926 participants. The latest symposium on advanced
radiation technology for state-of-the-art medical treatment was held
under the auspices of the Division of Radiation Science at Osaka University on August 8-10, 2001 (with 5 invited lectures, 32 presented
papers, and 114 participants).
Interesting and profitable phenomena have been elucidated at
the atomic scale in various fields of scientific investigation. Radiation
science, on the other hand, focuses on observations at a finer scale,
namely at the scale of nuclei. One century has passed since the almost concurrent discoveries of X-rays and radioactivity by Roentgenand by Becquerel and the Curies, respectively. Radiation science has made great
progress during this period. The particle
accelerator was invented and now various radiation (particle) beams of highquality are available. Research on radioisotopes and their uses haveresulted in the development of various apparatuses with compact radioisotope-sources for detection, examination, analysis, and other purposes. A study with a particular objective needs technological innovation, which in turn acts as a seed in a scientific field. In this way,radiation science has developed as a new and attractive scientific fieldand embraces various interdisciplinary technologies, which have greatly
contributed to the expansion of many industries and their economicvalue. In Japan, for example, the annual sales of durable tires, cables,
and other polymers irradiated by various types of radiation amount toabout ten billion dollars. This radiation technology for promoting
chemical reactions in polymers does not need heat, catalysts, or solvents, which saves both energy and resources and also reduces environmental pollution. The utilization of ion beams, which are considered an advanced type of radiation, supports annual sales in related
semiconductor industries of over forty billion dollars. Moreover, theeconomic scale of radiation-based medical treatment is now aboutten billion dollars per year, and it will grow because of expected newtechniques involving more delicate treatment with higher-quality radiation. Thus, radiation science and technology has become indispensable in modern society, and the Division of Radiation Science plays
an important role as a central site for research and development activities for high-quality radiation and its applications.
An image-guided radiosurgery system (CyberKnife) was developednine years ago and has achieved good results in cancer therapy. The
combination of radiation science and computer technology-a compact linear accelerator mounted on a robot-has made it possible toachieve precise stereotactic irradiation for highly efficient treatmentof cancer. Another successful combination is a state-of-the-art computed tomography system supported by radiation technology. Besides these noteworthy radiation technologies, I would like to stressthat radiation science and technology is becoming one of the key
technologies for achieving progress in society with low environmental
impact, because, in essence, radiation has hardly any effect on theenvironment. Now may be a good time to reflect on the essence ofradiation as well as radiation technology.

E-mail: iida@nucl.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp

JSAP International No.5 (January 2002)

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