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Alpha Decay

Alpha decay occurs when an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons, becoming an atom with a lower atomic number and mass number. Alpha particles are emitted by large radioactive nuclei through quantum tunneling, as they do not have enough energy to overcome the nuclear force. While alpha particles are effective at damaging cells, they pose health risks if internal exposure occurs, and special equipment is required to detect them due to their low penetration.

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172 views12 pages

Alpha Decay

Alpha decay occurs when an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons, becoming an atom with a lower atomic number and mass number. Alpha particles are emitted by large radioactive nuclei through quantum tunneling, as they do not have enough energy to overcome the nuclear force. While alpha particles are effective at damaging cells, they pose health risks if internal exposure occurs, and special equipment is required to detect them due to their low penetration.

Uploaded by

usunom
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MEANING AND APPLICATION IN PHYSICS

ALPHA DECAY

ALPHA DECAY

Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle (two protons and two neutrons) and thereby transforms (or 'decays') into an atom with a mass number 4 less and atomic number 2 less. For example: 238U 234Th + Because an alpha particle is the same as a helium-4 nucleus, which has mass number 4 and atomic number 2, this can also be written as: 238 92 U 234 90Th + 4 2He Unlike beta decay, alpha decay is governed by the interplay between the nuclear force and the electromagnetic force.

ALPHA DECAY

Alpha particles are commonly emitted by all of the larger radioactive nuclei such as uranium, thorium, actinium, and radium, as well as the transuranic elements Alpha particles have a typical kinetic energy of 5 MeV and a speed of 15,000 km/s The smallest nuclei that have to date been found to be capable of alpha emission are the lightest nuclides of tellurium (element 52)

APHA DECAY-MCHANISM OF PRODUCTION

Alpha decay results from the Coulomb repulsion between the alpha particle and the rest of the nucleus, which both have a positive electric charge, but which is kept in check by the nuclear force. In classical physics, alpha particles do not have enough energy to escape the potential well from the strong force inside the nucleus (this well involves escaping the strong force to go up one side of the well, which is followed by the electromagnetic force causing a repulsive push-off down the other side). However, the quantum tunnelling effect allows alphas to escape even though they do not have enough energy to overcome the nuclear force. This is allowed by the wave nature of matter, which allows the alpha particle to spend some of its time in a region so far from the nucleus that the potential from the repulsive electromagnetic force has fully compensated for the attraction of the nuclear force. From this point, alpha particles can escape, and in quantum mechanics, after a certain time, they do so.

DAMAGE

SMOKE DETECTOR

HISTORY

In the years 1899 and 1900, physicists Ernest Rutherford (working in Manchester) and Paul Villard (working in Paris) separated radiation into three types: eventually named alpha, beta, and gamma by Rutherford, based on penetration of objects and deflection by a magnetic field. Alpha rays were defined by Rutherford as those having the lowest penetration of ordinary objects. Rutherford's work also included measurements of the ratio of an alpha particle's mass to its charge, Alpha particles are doubly charged helium( proved in 1907 by Rutherford & Thomas Royd)

HISTORY

To do this they allowed alpha particles to penetrate a very thin glass wall of an evacuated tube, thus capturing a large number of the hypothesized helium ions inside the tube. They then caused an electric spark inside the tube, which provided a shower of electrons that were taken up by the ions to form neutral atoms of a gas. Subsequent study of the spectra of the resulting gas showed that it was helium and that the alpha particles were indeed the hypothesized helium ions.

PROBLEMS

If substances emitting alpha particles are ingested, inhaled, injected or introduced through the skin, then it could result in a measurable dose causing cellular damage. alpha radiation is the most destructive form of ionizing radiation It is the most strongly ionizing, and with large enough doses can cause any or all of the symptoms of radiation poisoning. It is estimated that chromosome damage from alpha particles is anywhere from 10 to 1000 times greater than that caused by an equivalent amount of gamma or beta radiation. The powerful alpha emitter polonium-210 is suspected of playing a role in lung cancer and bladder cancer related to tobacco smoking.

APPLICATION

Most smoke detectors contain a small amount of the alpha emitter americium-241. The alpha particles ionize air between a small gap. A small current is passed through that ionized air. Smoke particles from fire that enter the air gap reduce the current flow, sounding the alarm. Alpha decay can provide a safe power source for radioisotope thermoelectric generators used for space probes and artificial heart pacemakers. Researchers are currently trying to use the damaging nature of alpha emitting radionuclides inside the body by directing small amounts towards a tumor. The alphas damage the tumor and stop its growth while their small penetration depth prevents radiation damage of the surrounding healthy tissue. This type of cancer therapy is called unsealed source radiotherapy.

SMOKE DETECTOR

CHALLENGES

PRTECTING PEOPLE FROM EXPOSURE OF ALPHA PARTICLES. You must have specialized equipment to detect alpha radiation. Generally, this equipment is expensive and requires an expert to operate it.

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