Cherenkov radiation is notable for its faint blue hue while in liquids, like the bluish glow from an underwater nuclear reactor. More recently, this light signal has been used to image substances — and sparked keen interest in its use to detect and measure radiation — within the human body. This makes it valuable for cancer diagnosis and treatment, for medical imaging of radioisotopes and external beam radiotherapy. At Jefferson Lab, scientists are devising a compact, user-friendly instrument to help them tell one particle type from another in nuclear physics experiments. The new technologies being explored in this device could lead to enhancements in cancer detection and treatment.
