Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Department of Physics

8.276 Spring 2007 May 10, 2007

Solution to Problem set #10

1. (10 points)

aa
M (Z, A) =ZMp + N Mn − [av A − as A2/3 − ac Z 2 A−1/3 − (N − Z)2 A−1 ]/c2
4
M (Z − 1, A) =(Z − 1)Mp + (N + 1)Mn
aa
− [av A − as A2/3 − ac (Z − 1)2 A−1/3 − [(N + 1) − (Z − 1)]2 A−1 ]/c2
4
↑
This term vanishes
in the difference
when N = Z ± 1

So

Q = Mp c2 − Mn c2 + ac [Z 2 − (Z − 1)2 ]A−1/3 − mc2

A1/3 2 2 2


=⇒ ac = Q − M p c + M n c + mc
Z 2 − (Z − 1)2
351/3
= 2 (4.95 − 938.28 + 939.57 + 0.51) = 0.63MeV
18 − 172
(close to “typical value” of 0.71MeV)

2. (10 points)

∂M  2ac Z 2aa (A − 2Z)(−2)
= 1/3 + + (Mp + me − Mn )
∂Z A fixed
 A 4A | {z }
=−0.782MeV

∂M
= 0 for minimum mass. Solve for aa :
∂Z
 
A 2ac Z
aa = − 0.782
A − 2Z A1/3
ac = 0.714
= 5.87(15.59 − 0.78)
Z = 56
= 86.9MeV/c2
A = 135

Fairly close to “typical value” of 93.15 MeV/c2 .

1
3. (15 points)
Neutron separation energy = [M (A − 1, Z) + Mn − M (A, Z)] c2
1
Sn = − av (A − 1) + as (A − 1)2/3 + ac Z 2 (A − 1)−1/3 + aa (A − 1 − 2Z)2 (A − 1)−1
4
1
+ av A − as A2/3 − ac Z 2 A−1/3 − aa (A − 2Z)2 A−1
4
ignoring the pairing term. Let’s also ignore the small difference in the Coulomb term, which
is small to begin with
"  2/3 #  
2/3 1 2/3 2 −1
Surface term: as A 1− 1− = as A 1 − 1 + A − ···
A 3
2
= as · · A−1/3
3
aa  
Asymmetry term: (A − 1)(A − 2Z) − A(A − 1 − 2Z)2
2
4A(A − 1)
↓ algebra! (lots of terms cancel)
 
aa  2
 aa 4Z 2
= A(A − 1) − 4Z = 1−
4A(A − 1) 4 A(A − 1)

So
 
2 −1/3 aa 4Z 2
S n ≈ a v − as A − 1−
3 4 A(A − 1)
 
−1/3 484
= 15.7 − 11.5A − 23.3 1 − for Z = 11
A(A − 1)
11277 11.5
Sn = 0 =⇒ − 1/3 = 7.6 (1)
A(A − 1) A

Sn > 0 : stable (need to add energy to remove neutron)

Sn < 0 : unstable (will emit neutron spontaneously)

A = 30, LHS of (1) = 9.26; A = 31, LHS of (1) = 8.46 −→ Sn > 0

A = 32, LHS of (1) = 7.75 −→ Sn > 0 So 32
11 Na is the heaviest stable isotope

A = 33, LHS of (1) = 7.09 −→ Sn < 0

2
4. (10 points)
The scattered electron energy is:
E
E0 = where M is the target mass
2E 2 θ
1+ sin
M c2 2
Letting M = M (12 C) = 12(931.5),
194
E0 =   = 188.42MeV
2(194) 2 135
1+ sin
12(931.5) 2
ν = E − E = 5.58MeV : this is the e−12 C elastic scattering peak.
0

Letting M = Mp = 938.3, we find E 0 = 143MeV

ν = E − E 0 = 51MeV : this is the quasi-elastic peak
(scattering off protons in the 12 C nucleus).
The peak is broad because of the motion
(“Fermi motion”) of the protons.

5. (10 points)
Z N 1 4
For a nucleus with Z + N = A particles, = = , Ω = πr03 A
A A 2 3
~
pF = (9π)1/3
2r0
The average kinetic energy of a neutron or proton is
Z pF 2 Z pF
p 3
dp p2 (p2 dp)
2M 4π 3 p2F
hEi = 0Z pF = 0
=
2M 4 2 5 2M
d3 p πpF
0 3
2 2/3
M=nucleon mass
3 ~ (9π)
= · 2·
5 4r0 2M
3 × (197.3)2 (9π)2/3
= = 20.0MeV
40 × (1.2)2 × (939)
16
=⇒ Total kinetic energy of nucleons in O= 320MeV

6. (6 points)

1−
14
7 N8 : proton hole in closed 1p shell −→ J π = 2

1+
27
12 Mg15 : neutron shells filled 1s, 1p, 1d5/2 , odd n in 2s1/2 −→ J π = 2
2 6 6 =14

9+
87
38 Sr49 : neutron hole in 1g9/2 subshell −→ J π = 2

3
7. (8 points)
The magnetic moments predicted by the single-particle shell model (“Schmidt limits”)
are:

µ = µN [g` (j − 12 ) + 21 gs ] for j = ` + 1
2
j
µ = µN [g` (j + 32 ) − 21 gs ] j+1 for j = ` − 1
2

For proton state, g` = 1 and gs = 5.586.

For neutron state, g` = 0 and gs = −3.826.

11
5 B6 : proton hole in p3/2 orbit, j = ` + 12 = 32
Schmidt limit : µ = µN (1 + 2.79) = 3.79µN > measured value of 92.69µN
41 1 7
20 Ca21 : odd neutron in f7/2 orbit, ` = 3, j = ` + 2 = 2
Schmidt limit : µ = −1.91µN . measured value = −1.6µN
pretty close, as you’d expect for a
(doubly closed shell + 1) nucleus

8. (6 points)
Consider the spin directions (polarizing field
“down”) 60 60
Co Ni
To conserve angular momentum, electron and
B
neutrino spins must be in same direction as the ?
nuclear spins.
The ν̄ is right-handed — its momentum is
in the same direction as its spin (“down” in the e−
above diagram). 4
?
?
ν̄
To conserve linear momentum, the electron 5
? 1/2 ?
1/2
must be in the opposite direction (“up”) — thus
anti-parallel to the direction of the B field.