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PH 8103 Presentation 1

The document discusses basic properties of nuclei, including their size on the order of 10-14 m, discovery in 1911, and positive charge. It describes nuclei being able to be characterized by parameters like radius, mass, binding energy, and examines experiments measuring nuclear charge distribution and interactions. Methods for determining nuclear size and shape are outlined, like examining radiation scattered from nuclei when the wavelength is smaller than nuclear dimensions.

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Rishav Saikia
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31 views10 pages

PH 8103 Presentation 1

The document discusses basic properties of nuclei, including their size on the order of 10-14 m, discovery in 1911, and positive charge. It describes nuclei being able to be characterized by parameters like radius, mass, binding energy, and examines experiments measuring nuclear charge distribution and interactions. Methods for determining nuclear size and shape are outlined, like examining radiation scattered from nuclei when the wavelength is smaller than nuclear dimensions.

Uploaded by

Rishav Saikia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit I: Basic properties of nuclei

Nucleus - - - small, massive and positively charged


core inside an atom surrounded by orbiting electrons

- - - first discovered in 1911

- - - size of the order of 10-14 m


Fig.1.: Fermi distribution for the nuclear charge density.

ρ0 ≡ nucleon density near the centre of the nucleus.

R ≡ radius at which the density has decreased by a factor of 2 below


its central value.

a ≡ a measure of the surface thickness such that the distance over


which the density falls from 90% of ρ0 to 10% of ρ0 is 4.4a .
• Isotopes
• Isotones
• Isobars
1 eV ???

To a considerable extent, we can describe a nucleus by a


relatively small number of parameters: electric charge, radius,
mass, binding energy, angular momentum, parity, magnetic dipole
and electric quadrupole moments and energies of excited states.
These are the static properties of nuclei.

The dynamic properties of nuclei include decay and reaction


probabilities.
Nuclear radius

• In some experiments such as high-energy electron scattering,


muonic X-rays, optical & X-ray isotope shifts and energy
differences of mirror nuclei, we measure the Coulomb
interaction of a charged particle with the nucleus. These
experiments then determine the distribution of nuclear charge.

• In other experiments, such as Rutherford scattering, alpha decay


and pionic X-rays, we measure the strong nuclear interaction of
nuclear particles and we would determine the distribution of
nucleons, called the distribution of nuclear matter.
Distribution of nuclear charge

• Our usual means for determining the size and shape of an


object is to examine the radiation scattered from it.

• To see the object and its details, the wavelength of the


radiation must be smaller than the dimensions of the object,
otherwise the effects of diffraction will partially or completely
obscure the image.

• e.g. for nuclei with diameter ≈ 10 fm, we require λ ≲ 10 fm.


The central nuclear charge density is nearly the same for all
nuclei.

Nucleons do not seem to congregate near the centre of the


nucleus but instead have a fairly constant distribution out to
the surface.

Fig.1. shows how diffuse the nuclear surface appears to be.


The charge density is roughly constant out to a certain point
and then drops relatively slowly to zero. The distance over
which this drop occurs is nearly independent of the size of the
nucleus and is usually taken to be constant.
1/3
The nuclear radius varies with mass number as R0 A , with
R0 ≈ 1.2 − 1.25 fm.
Distribution of nuclear matter

Consider an experiment in which an alpha particle is scattered


from a much heavier target of Au-197. If the separation between
the two nuclei is always greater than the sum of their radii, each is
always beyond the range of the other’s nuclear force. So, only the
Coulomb force acts. This situation is known as Rutherford
scattering.
Fig.2.: Breakdown of the Rutherford scattering formula.

The point at which this breakdown occurs gives a measure of the


size of the nucleus.
Q.1. Assuming that protons and neutrons possess equal masses,
calculate how many times nuclear matter is denser than water if
nuclear radius is given by 1.2 × 10−15 A 1/3 m, where A is the
mass number.

Q.2. A nucleus with A = 235 splits into two nuclei whose mass
numbers are in the ratio 2:1. Find the radii of the new nuclei.

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