This lecture discusses alpha decay in radionuclides. Theories on alpha decay are presented. Systematics and energetics involved in alpha decay are presented. The correlation between Q value and decay energy is described. The Geiger Nuttall relationship is provided, described, and utilized in a model for alpha decay. Tunneling is also exploited to described alpha decay, coupling energy and half-life. Gamow calculations are shown to reflect the Geiger Nuttall relationship. Hindered alpha decay is discussed. Hindered alpha decay is employed to described nuclear properties. Hinderance factors are described, along with how they are calculated and where they can be found. Proton and other charged particle emission are presented.
I just finished this online lecture.
ReplyDeleteI had a question, and maybe it'll be easier to answer during our meeting tomorrow. How were the excited state energies tabulated for different spins and parities (for the non-probable decays), seeing as many of them have extremely high hindrance factors with very short half-lives.
- Chris
this is where gamma spectroscopy comes into place. Experiments are performed to obtain detailed information on gamma decays. This information includes relative abundance and lifetime. Gammasphere is an example of an experimental apparatus that was used for these measurements.
DeleteWow I didn't realize alpha decay would get so complicated
ReplyDeletethanks for the comment
ReplyDeleteI understood as best I could, It was difficult to get my interest involved as the math is more intense than I would have thought.
ReplyDeleteWill try to focus on resolving this in the Friday meeting
DeleteI found this lecture very interesting and I would love to learn more about heavy particle decay.
ReplyDeletethanks for the comment.
DeleteAlthough I'm grasping the general reasoning behind alpha decay theory, I will need to read into things a bit further before I feel like I can connect with the theoretical models for the alpha decay constant. I'm often not very comfortable with equations I can't derive or intuitively grasp at some level.
ReplyDeleteHeavy particle decay is a new thing for me; I had never heard of that form of decay prior to a day or so ago. According to the Wikipedia article I was reading on the history of cluster decay, the phenomena was discovered in 1984 from the study of Ra-223; a relatively recent discovery it seems.
-Zach
Thanks for the comment. The meeting will discuss and review details of alpha decay.
DeleteFinished lecture but will definitely have to spend a lot of time reviewing it this weekend
ReplyDeleteFinished the lecture. Found the theory behind heavy atom and alpha decay intriguing. Many of the terms used to describe the theory seem to come from quantum mechanics.
ReplyDeleteQuantum mechanisms were certainly used in the description of alpha decay.
DeleteHad to watch this lecture a few times. I think I'm starting to grasp the basics, I got a little lost when the quantum mechanics started coming into play however. I do understand now why higher energies are related to shorter half lives, turned out to be a pretty intuitive concept!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Would splitting the lecture help?
ReplyDeleteSplitting the lecture would help. Even if there are 22 slides I thought the material was heavy that I'm still having difficulties on.
ReplyDelete