Nitrogen-13 is a positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical tracer commonly used in myocardial perfusion PET scans to assess blood flow to the heart. Nitrogen has a proton number of 7.
Write the complete nuclear equation for the β+\beta^+β+ decay of a Nitrogen-13 nucleus.
The positron (β+\beta^+β+ particle) emitted by the Nitrogen-13 nucleus travels only a fraction of a millimetre through the surrounding tissue before it encounters an electron and annihilates, producing two identical gamma-ray photons.
Calculate the wavelength λ\lambdaλ of each of the gamma-ray photons produced. Give your answer in picometres (pm\text{pm}pm). (Use: h=6.63×10−34 J sh = 6.63 \times 10^{-34}\text{ J s}h=6.63×10−34 J s, c=3.00×108 m s−1c = 3.00 \times 10^8\text{ m s}^{-1}c=3.00×108 m s−1, me=9.11×10−31 kgm_e = 9.11 \times 10^{-31}\text{ kg}me=9.11×10−31 kg, 1 pm=10−12 m1\text{ pm} = 10^{-12}\text{ m}1 pm=10−12 m)
Even though X-rays and gamma-rays are both high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, they originate from entirely different physical processes. Briefly describe how both types of radiation are produced.
Nitrogen-13 has a short half-life of 10.0 minutes. Explain the clinical advantage this offers to the patient and the operational disadvantage it poses for the medical staff.