Radioactivity

The Radioactive Decay Chain

So far we have examined the equation governing the decay of a
radioactive nuclide when the product of the decay, the daughter, is stable.

But, what happens if the daughter itself is also radioactive?

Let’s suppose that N1 (t ) is the number of nuclei of the original

radioactive nuclide (the mother) as a function of the time and
that "1 is its decay constant.
!
Let’s also suppose that: N 2 (t ) is the number of nuclei of the
radioactive product (the daughter) as a function of time and
!
that " 2 is its decay constant.
!
We now write down the differential equations governing this
! situation.

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Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain
For the original radioactive nuclide we have, just as before that:
dN1 (t )
= " #1 N1 (t ) with the solution N1 (t) = N 0 e " # t as before.
1

dt

But in the case of the daughter we have:

!
! dN 2 (t )
= "#2 N 2 (t ) + #1 N1 (t )
dt

Rate of formation of
Total rate of Rate of the daughter (from
change! of the radioactive decay the radioactive
number of nuclei of the daughter, decay of the
N2, with time. (N2). mother).

Make sure that you understand this – ask a question!

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 Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain
How do we solve this equation?

First use N1 (t) = N 0 e " # t to get: 1

dN 2 (t )
= " # 2 N 2 (t ) + #1 N 0 e " # t 1

dt
!
This looks complicated but it can be solved. Let’s see how.
!
Multiply through by e " t and collect the terms with N 2 on the left
2

hand side (lhs).

" t dN 2 (t ) " t
! e 2 N0e( "
+ e " 2 N 2 (t ) = "1!
2 2 #"1 ) t

dt

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Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain
We have:
dN 2 (t ) " t (I)
e" t
2
+ e " 2 N 2 (t ) = "1 N 0 e ( "
2 2 #"1 ) t

dt

d [ e " 2 t N 2 (t )] dN 2 (t ) " 2 t which is the lhs of

Now notice that = e "2t + e " 2 N 2 (t )
dt dt our equation I.
!
d [ e " 2 t N 2 (t )]
So (I) gives = "1 N 0 e ( " 2 #"1 ) t
! dt

and integrating "1 where C is an

e " t N 2 (t ) =
2
N0e( " 2 #"1 ) t
+C integration constant.
both sides gives –! " 2 # "1

In order to find C we have to know how much of nuclide 2, i.e. N2,

there was at time t = 0.
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 Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain
Usually (but not always) N 2 ( 0) = 0

"1
In general e " 0 N 2 ( 0) =
2
N 0 e ( " #" ) 0 + C
2 1

" 2 # "1
!"
1
i.e. N 2 ( 0) = N 0 1+ C
" 2 # "1
! #1
so C = N 2 ( 0) " N0
# 2 " #1
! #1
In the case where N 2 ( 0) = 0 C=" N0
# 2 " #1
"1 "1
and!we have e " t N 2 (t ) =
2
N0e( " 2 #"1 ) t
# N0
" 2 # "1 " 2 # "1
!
! N"
This simplifies to give: N 2 (t ) = 0 1 ( e # " 1 t # e # " 2 t )
" 2 # "1
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Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain

N 0 "1 # " t # " t

Finally, we have: N 2 (t ) =
"2 # "1
(e # e ) 1 2

The activity from the parent is found by multiplying N1(t) by λ1 and the
activity from the daughter is found by multiplying the above
expression
! for N2(t) by λ2 (as usual).
You should play with the above equation using a spreadsheet to
see what happens in different cases.
If the half life of the parent is long in comparison with that of the daughter,
then the activity of the daughter will tend to the activity of the parent. (It
will approach it asymptotically.)
If the half life of the parent is short in comparison with that of the daughter,
then the activity of the daughter will grow to a maximum and then decay
approaching an exponential decay with its own decay constant.
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 Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain

As an example of a longer lived parent with a shorter lived

daughter we take the following:

99 99 m 99
Mo " Tc " Tc
T1/2 =67 hrs T1/2 =6 hrs

In its decay 99mTc emits a low energy 140 keV gamma-ray

which is used in nuclear medicine to image the function of the
! (myocardium), thyroid, lungs and other organs.
heart

The 140 keV is easy to detect and image because of its

relatively low energy.

In addition it has the advantage of a short half-life so that good images can be
obtained without delivering a large integrated radiation dose to the patient.
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Use of 99mTc in Nuclear Medicine

Tumour in
parathyroid gland

Gamma-camera image of 99mTc compound absorbed in the

parathyroid gland. (Image of patients head and neck at two
decay times.)

The image shows the presence of a (benign) tumour affecting

the operation of this particular endocrine gland.

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 Use of 99mTc in Nuclear Medicine

1. A molybdenum target in a reactor is used to make 99Mo through the reaction

98Mo(n,γ)99Mo.

2. The longer-lived 99Mo is supplied to the nuclear physician as a “cow”, that is

in a convenient form so that the 99mTc can be “milked off” when needed.
3. The activity of the 99mTc is high but dies off fast so that the total dose to the
patient is low.
4. The 99Tc which is left has a very long half-life so that the dose to the patient
from this source is extremely low. 96
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Use of 99mTc in Nuclear Medicine

99Mo activity
Activity (arb. units)

99mTc activity

Elapsed time (hrs)

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 Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain – the xenon effect.

Another example is the growth of 135Xe, a neutron “poison”, after

reactor shutdown

135Xe is the daughter of 135I in one chain of fission products (see later).

T1/2(135I) = 6.7 h
T1/2(135Xe) = 9.2 h

The neutron capture reaction 135Xe + n   136Xe + γ has a very high cross-
section. (This is why it is a poison).
σ[135Xe(n,γ)] = 2.636 x 106 b (ENDF B/6)
While σ[135I(n,γ)] = about 0.02 b
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Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain – the xenon effect.

Fission product
decay chain (one of
many)

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 Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain

Because of its high cross-section the 135Xe is burned up during the

reactor operation (It is transformed by the flux)

While the reactor is operating the 135Xe is at a relatively low level

But what happens once the reactor stops?

For argument’s sake let’s suppose that the level of 135Xe is 1/10th of the 135I
during the steady state operation of a reactor.

(This is a purely arbitrary number)

The iodine starts to decay into xenon and the amount can be predicted from
our equation.
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Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain

It will look like this:

Relative amount of isotope (arb. units)

135I

135Xe

Time after reactor shutdown (hrs)

The xenon will grow and after 5 hours there will be almost five times as
much as during normal operation – the reactor will be difficult to start 101
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 Radioactivity
The radioactive decay chain

Exercise 24

1. In a hypothetical reactor the 135Xe level is 10% of the 135I level

during normal operation.
The reactor trips.
In this hypothetical reactor it cannot be restarted if the 135Xe level is
more than twice the equilibrium level during normal operation.
How long will the reactor be off before it can start putting power
back into the national grid?
Give two answers.

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