alpha decay I - Department of Physics, HKU
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Transcript alpha decay I - Department of Physics, HKU
Alpha Decay
basics
[Sec. 7.1/7.2/8.2/8.3 Dunlap]
Alpha decay Example
Parent nucleus Cm-244.
The daughter isotope is Pu-240
244
Cm
96
240
94Pu
Why alpha particle instead of other light nuclei
Energy Q associated with the emission of various particles from a 235U nucleus.
There are always two questions that
can be asked about any decay in
atomic, nuclear or particle physics: (i)
How much kinetic energy was
released? and (ii) How quickly did it
happen? (i.e. Energy? and Time?).
Lets look at both of these questions for
decay.
Energy Released Q Experiments
The above diagram (right) shows the experimental
energy of release. The above diagram (left) shows the
abundance of alpha emitters. Both diagrams are as a
function of A. Can you see the relationship?
The Energy of the α-particle, Tα
A
Z
Mass of X
X
Q
Mass of Y
+ particle
A
Z
A 4
Z 2
X Y He Q
4
2
A 4
Z 2
Y
And the energy released in the
decay is simply given by energy
Y M Hec
Q M X M
A
Z
A 4
Z 2
4
2
2
The Energy of the α-particle, Tα
Conserving energy and momentum one finds:
2
2
p2 4
A 4
Q
1 T
8M A
2 AM 8M
A
p
p
BEFORE
-p,
P2/2AM
+p,
p2/8M
AFTER
A
T Q
A4
Q
1
m
m
D
Energy Released Q.
This can be estimated from the SEMF by realizing that the B(Z,A) curve is
rather smooth at large Z, and A and differential calculus can be used to
calculate the B due to a change of 2 in Z and a change of 4 in A. Starting from
(8.2) we also have:
Q B 4 He B( NAX N ) B( ZA42YN 2 )
Q B 24 He 2
B aV A a S A
2/3
B
B
B
B
4
28.3MeV 2
4
Z
A
Z
A
aC
Z2
A1 / 3
( A 2Z ) 2
Z2
Z2
2/3
aA
aV A a S A a C 1 / 3 a A A 4a A Z 4a A
A
A
A
B
Z
Z
2a C 1 / 3 4a A 8a A
Z
A
A
B
2
1
aV a S A1 / 3 a C
A
3
3
8
Q 28.3MeV 4aV a S
3
Z2
4/3
a a 4a A
Z2
A
A2
2
1
Z
Z
Z
4
a
1
4
a
1
2
C
A
1/ 3
1/ 3
3
A
A
A
A
There can be multiple alpha energies
This diagram shows the
alpha decay to the 240Pu
daughter nucleus – and this
nucleus is PROLATE and
able to ROTATE collectively.
Alpha decay can occur to
any one of the excited
states although not with the
same probability.
For each decay:
Q Q 0 E
where E is the excited
state energy
Total angular momentum and parity need be conserved
Total angular momentum and parity need be conserved
5/2-
243Am
239Np
9/2-
0.172 MeV
7/2-
0.118 MeV
5/2-
0.075 MeV
7/2+
0.031 MeV
5/2+
0 MeV
How fast did it happen?
The mean life (often called just “the lifetime”) is defined simply as 1/ λ. That is the
time required to decay to 1/e of the original population. We get:
The first Decay Rate Experiments The Geiger –Nuttal Law
The first Decay Rate Experiments The Geiger –Nuttal Law
As early as 1907,
Rutherford and coworkers
had discovered that the particles emitted from shortlived isotopes were more
penetrating (i.e. had more
energy). By 1912 his
coworkers Geiger and
Nuttal had established the
connection between particle
range R and emitter halflife . It was of the form:
The first Decay Rate Experiments The Geiger –Nuttal Law
The one-body model of α-decay assumes that the
α-particle is preformed in the nucleus, and confined
to the nuclear interior by the Coulomb potential
barrier. In the classical picture, if the kinetic energy
of the -particle is less than the potential energy
represented by the barrier height, the α-particle
cannot leave the nucleus.
vα
Qα
r=R
2R
PT
r=b
In the quantum-mechanical picture, however, there is
a finite probability that the -particle will tunnel
through the barrier and leave the nucleus.
The α-decay constant is then a product of the
frequency of collisions with the barrier, or ``knocking
frequency'‘ (vα/2R), and the barrier penetration
probability PT.
How high and wide the barrier?
2Ze 2
1
V (r )
2Z .c.
(4 0 )r
r
The height of the barrier is:
Emax
2 Z . .c
R
The width of the barrier is
30MeV
w
Lets calculate these for
Emax
w bR
235
92
U
taking R0=1.2F, we have
2 x 92 x197 MeV .F
36 MeV
137 x 7.4 F
2Z . . c
R
Q
R 1.2x(235)1/ 3 7.4F
2x92 x197 MeV .F
w
7.4 F 49 F
137 x 4.68 MeV