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ATOMS The Nucleus

ATOMS The Nucleus. Radioactivity Artificial nuclear reactions Fission & fusion . Radioactivity - quantum tunneling from atomic nucleus. 3 types of natural nuclear decay: α - Nucleus emits a Helium nucleus β - Nucleus emits an electron γ - Nucleus emits a (gamma) photon

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ATOMS The Nucleus

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  1. ATOMS The Nucleus • Radioactivity • Artificial nuclear reactions • Fission & fusion

  2. Radioactivity - quantum tunneling from atomic nucleus • 3 types of natural nuclear decay: • α - Nucleus emits a Helium nucleus • β - Nucleus emits an electron • γ - Nucleus emits a (gamma) photon • Emission is random • QM predicts probability emission • will happen (per second)

  3. α Decay Alpha particle quantum tunnels out of large nucleus Random process – wait long enough and it will happen Example of natural nuclear reaction - radioactivity

  4. Applications of Radioactivity • Radiometric Dating: age of rocks, e.g. organic matter (carbon dating). • Nuclear Medicine: non-invasive imaging of tissue e.g. Gamma knife • Radiation Therapy: ionizing damages cancer cell DNA e.g. Brachytherapy • Murder: poisoning e.g. Alexander Litvinenko

  5. Artificial Nuclear reactions Cockcroft & Walton (1930s) First to `split the atom’ (nucleus) Early particle accelerator P = proton (also denoted 1H, nucleus of Hydrogen) 7Li = nucleus of Lithium, 7 = # nucleons = protons + neutrons E = Energy

  6. Mass - Energy Mass of a nucleus less than total mass of its nucleon constituents Via E=mc2 Mass difference is binding energy to hold nucleons inside nucleus Middle-sized nuclei are most stable (e.g. Iron 56Fe)

  7. Larger nuclei can release energy and become more stable by: FISSION Baker test equals 14,000 tonnes TNT A chain reaction is needed for large energy release: U + n --> Rb + Cs + 2n Uranium neutron Rubidium Cesium two neutrons 2 -> 4 -> 8 -> 16 - > 32 -> 64 -> 128 -> 256 -> 512 -> 1024 -> . . Nuclear power stations `moderate’ chain reaction by absorbing some neutrons

  8. Smaller nuclei can release energy and become more stable by: FUSION Sun loses 4 million tonnes of mass per sec Isotopes of Hydrogen Thermonuclear Weapons

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