Need to Refresh my Chemistry Knowledge, Going to Work on Cyclotrons

[DonDavis]

My local Team member that maintained cyclotrons retired. Since I already work in Nuclear Medicine and PET, I was asked to take on those duties.
Been too many years since my chemistry classes.
I was looking through some material and I'd like to take an online Basic Chemistry course to refresh my base.

And a brief explanation of a cyclotron from wiki...

"Cyclotrons can be used in particle therapy to treat cancer. Ion beams from cyclotrons can be used, as in proton therapy, to penetrate the body and kill tumors by radiation damage, while minimizing damage to healthy tissue along their path. Cyclotron beams can be used to bombard other atoms to produce short-lived positron-emitting isotopes suitable for PET imaging. More recently some cyclotrons currently installed at hospitals for radio isotopes production have been retrofitted to enable them to produce technetium-99m.[21] Technetium-99m is a diagnostic isotope in short supply due to difficulties at Canada's Chalk River facility."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclotron

Any site recommendations?

[Mahler9th]

I don't have a specific suggestion, but I will ask around. As you might recall my network in medical imaging and healthcare capital equipment is pretty extensive.

Is the cylotron to which you refer a commercial product? If so, what is the name of the company?

Feel free to send me a PM.

[DonDavis]

I work for GE, it'll be on our systems. I have already been in touch with that group and have some general stuff in my queue. Just looking to be more competent when I get to training...whenever that will be. Covid has things in limbo.
I took a very brief online course the other day. But it was very high level information. Nothing specific at all.

But to my favor, I have a several months before I'll touch a system on my own.

Just thought I'd benefit from a refresher in chemistry.

[bivenator]

I do PET imaging. We are using the Rubidium generator produced by Bracco. I don't think GE has their own Rubidium generator so if you are going to work with Rubidium then the Bracco sight has enough info written on different levels to help you fake it till you make it.

[Mahler9th]

OK cool, I will ask around. As you may recall I worked for GE 1978-1984 during time off from college and grad school... engineering work. Then marketing '88-'91. One of my friends from that era recently retired as GE Healthcare CTO. Hope they are treating you well.

[Steve Viegas]

I recommend Khan Academy if you are looking for general educational materials. They have college level classes in Chemistry and O Chem. It is free.

[unclebilly]

I toured the TRIUMF cyclotron when I was in University. It was impressive.

For those who don’t know what a cyclotron is, triumf.ca

TRIUMF is a 520 MeV cyclotron that produces photon beams. From what I recall, this is just a run of the mill particle accelerator like most of us have in our basements...

[ckelly78z]

I'm usually the guy on the table getting the scan.

[DonDavis]

Ah yes, I had forgotten about Kahn. I'll start there. Good call!
My son and I did some math there a few years ago.

[MBAtarga]

Have you ever heard of MIT?

They have free on-line courses ( I believe it's almost all of them actually.)

https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/

[MBAtarga]

Also - I think Cyclotrons would be covered in Material Science - not Chemistry?

Another MIT course-

https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/materials-science-and-engineering/3-a08-attraction-and-repulsion-the-magic-of-magnets-fall-2005/syllabus/

[DonDavis]

Not looking for cyclotron info, I'll get that from work. I was looking at some other course info and it had organic chemistry topics. That what I need to brush up on.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

Also - I think Cyclotrons would be covered in Material Science - not Chemistry?

Another MIT course-

https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/materials-science-and-engineering/3-a08-attraction-and-repulsion-the-magic-of-magnets-fall-2005/syllabus/

Material science---> solid state chem-----> physical chem.

I'm confused on the OP's question.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Not looking for cyclotron info, I'll get that from work. I was looking at some other course info and it had organic chemistry topics. That what I need to brush up on.

Prolly closer to inorganic...

[RANDY P]

1)- So Cyclotron is a chem thing? I thought it was a metal song.

2)- try edx.org. A huge selection of free or next-to-free college courses of all types. I'm taking Precalc on there, because, well I'm bored.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

1)- So Cyclotron is a chem thing? I thought it was a metal song.

2)- try edx.org. A huge selection of free or next-to-free college courses of all types. I'm taking Precalc on there, because, well I'm bored.

take diff Q... omg you'll remember the pain!

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

take diff Q... omg you'll remember the pain!

O I doubt I'll ever get that far. I suck at math....I'll be happy if I actually finish a Calc class..

Just trying to live up to my ethnic duties. What kind of Asian guy can't do math?

rjp

[ChemMan]

This link might help

https://www.nscl.msu.edu/

The National Superconducting Cyclotron Lab is changing to the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. They are replacing their cyclotrons. They may have already. I did not visit this year. They run a program for teachers and students over the summer called PAN (Physics of Atomic Nuclei). It will be virtual this year (naturally). If you contact them, they may be willing to provide you with some reading material. If you are ever in the area, it would be worth the time to contact them and see if a tour can be arranged. They are consistently ranked in the top three for nuclear graduate programs plus, they are some great people who worth there. PAN is running through Notre Dame too. Same program, same time.

[aigel]

This isn't chemistry. This is medical physics / nuclear medicine.

I would go through coursera. Most of their content they link to is free, unless you want to get an exam / certificate.

This one looks to be very thorough. May be a bit stiff if you don't have a solid science background:
https://www.coursera.org/learn/medical-applications-particle-accelerators

Otherwise, youtube may be good for some lighter content. Maybe you can find videos for your particular system. I'd also search the cancer medicine help sites where you may get a perspective for the patient.

Here a varian clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLgzxG7j40U

Super interesting stuff. I was seriously thinking about switching into medical physics mid-career one time.

G