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Nuclear Binding Energy and Models

The document discusses nuclear binding energy, mass defect, and the semi-empirical mass formula, which explains nuclear stability trends. It covers nuclear models such as the liquid drop and shell models, types of radioactivity, decay laws, and nuclear reactions including fission and fusion. Key concepts include the behavior of nuclei, decay processes, and the conditions required for nuclear reactions and energy release.

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4 views4 pages

Nuclear Binding Energy and Models

The document discusses nuclear binding energy, mass defect, and the semi-empirical mass formula, which explains nuclear stability trends. It covers nuclear models such as the liquid drop and shell models, types of radioactivity, decay laws, and nuclear reactions including fission and fusion. Key concepts include the behavior of nuclei, decay processes, and the conditions required for nuclear reactions and energy release.

Uploaded by

adder567
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

3.

Nuclear Binding Energy


Mass defect:

Δm=Zmp+Nmn−Mnucleus\Delta m = Zm_p + Nm_n - M_{\text{nucleus}}Δm=Zmp+Nmn


−Mnucleus

Binding energy:

Eb=Δmc2E_b = \Delta m c^2Eb=Δmc2

Binding energy per nucleon peaks near iron → explains:

• Fusion (light nuclei)


• Fission (heavy nuclei)

4. Semi-Empirical Mass Formula (Weizsäcker)


B(A,Z)=avA−asA2/3−acZ2A1/3−aa(A−2Z)2A+δB(A,Z) = a_v A - a_s A^{2/3} - a_c
\frac{Z^2}{A^{1/3}} - a_a \frac{(A-2Z)^2}{A} + \deltaB(A,Z)=avA−asA2/3−acA1/3Z2−aa
A(A−2Z)2+δ

Terms represent:

• Volume
• Surface
• Coulomb repulsion
• Asymmetry
• Pairing

Explains nuclear stability trends.

5. Nuclear Models
5.1 Liquid Drop Model

• Nucleus behaves like incompressible fluid.


• Explains fission and collective behavior.
• Fails for shell effects.
5.2 Shell Model

• Nucleons move in mean potential.


• Magic numbers:

2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 1262,\; 8,\; 20,\; 28,\; 50,\; 82,\; 1262,8,20,28,50,82,126

Explains nuclear spin and magnetic moments.

6. Radioactivity
6.1 Types of Decay

Type Process
Alpha 24He^4_2\text{He}24He emission
Beta-minus n→p+e−+νˉn \to p + e^- + \bar\nun→p+e−+νˉ
Beta-plus p→n+e++νp \to n + e^+ + \nup→n+e++ν
Electron capture p+e−→n+νp + e^- \to n + \nup+e−→n+ν
Gamma EM transition

6.2 Decay Law

N(t)=N0e−λtN(t) = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}N(t)=N0e−λt

Half-life:

T1/2=ln⁡2λT_{1/2} = \frac{\ln 2}{\lambda}T1/2=λln2

Activity:

A=λNA = \lambda NA=λN

7. Alpha Decay
Quantum tunneling through Coulomb barrier.

Decay probability:

P∼e−2∫k(r)drP \sim e^{-2\int k(r)dr}P∼e−2∫k(r)dr


Explains Geiger–Nuttall law:

log⁡T1/2∝ZEα\log T_{1/2} \propto \frac{Z}{\sqrt{E_\alpha}}logT1/2∝EαZ

8. Beta Decay
Weak interaction process.

Continuous energy spectrum → evidence of neutrino.

Fermi theory:

Γ∝GF2∣M∣2\Gamma \propto G_F^2 |M|^2Γ∝GF2∣M∣2

Parity violation observed.

9. Gamma Decay
Excited nucleus emits photon.

Selection rules:

• Angular momentum conservation


• Parity change

Used in spectroscopy.

10. Nuclear Reactions


General form:

a+A→b+Ba + A \to b + Ba+A→b+B

Q-value:

Q=(ma+mA−mb−mB)c2Q = (m_a + m_A - m_b - m_B)c^2Q=(ma+mA−mb−mB)c2

• Q>0Q>0Q>0: exothermic
• Q<0Q<0Q<0: endothermic
11. Nuclear Fission
Heavy nucleus splits:

235U+n→fission fragments+2–3n+∼200 MeV{}^{235}\text{U} + n \to \text{fission fragments}


+ 2\text{–}3n + \sim200\,\text{MeV}235U+n→fission fragments+2–3n+∼200MeV

Chain reaction condition:

k>1k > 1k>1

Applications:

• Nuclear reactors
• Atomic bombs

11.1 Reactor Physics Basics

• Moderator slows neutrons


• Control rods absorb neutrons
• Coolant removes heat

12. Nuclear Fusion


Light nuclei combine:

2H+3H→4He+n+17.6 MeV{}^2\text{H} + {}^3\text{H} \to {}^4\text{He} + n +


17.6\,\text{MeV}2H+3H→4He+n+17.6MeV

Requires:

• High temperature
• High density
• Long confinement time

Lawson criterion.

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