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Introduction To Nuclear Physics

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Introduction To Nuclear Physics

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smashnoonahnaf
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Introduction to Nuclear Physics

Nuclear physics is the branch of physics that studies the structure, components, and behavior of
atomic nuclei, as well as the interactions between nuclear particles. It involves the investigation
of nuclear forces, radioactivity, nuclear reactions, and applications like nuclear energy and
medical imaging. The atomic nucleus, which is composed of protons and neutrons, is at the core
of nuclear physics.

Structure of the Nucleus

1. Protons and Neutrons


o The nucleus consists of protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons.
o Protons are positively charged particles with a charge of +e+e+e (elementary
charge e=1.6×10−19 Ce = 1.6 \times 10^{-19} \, Ce=1.6×10−19C) and a mass of
approximately 1.67×10−27 kg1.67 \times 10^{-27} \, \text{kg}1.67×10−27kg.
o Neutrons are neutral particles with no charge, but they have nearly the same mass
as protons.
2. Atomic Number and Mass Number
o The atomic number (Z) is the number of protons in the nucleus and defines the
element.
o The mass number (A) is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
o The number of neutrons is N=A−ZN = A - ZN=A−Z, where AAA is the mass
number and ZZZ is the atomic number.
3. Isotopes Isotopes are nuclei of the same element (same ZZZ) that have different numbers
of neutrons (different NNN). For example, carbon-12 (12C^{12}C12C) and carbon-14
(14C^{14}C14C) are isotopes of carbon with 6 protons, but 6 and 8 neutrons,
respectively.

Nuclear Forces

The fundamental force that holds the nucleus together is the strong nuclear force, which acts
between nucleons (protons and neutrons). This force is:

 Attractive at short distances (on the order of a few femtometers).


 Repulsive at extremely short distances to prevent nucleons from collapsing into each
other.

The strong nuclear force is much stronger than the electrostatic repulsive force between protons,
which would otherwise cause the nucleus to break apart. However, the strong force is a short-
range force, meaning it only acts effectively over distances comparable to the size of the nucleus
(about 1 fm1 \, \text{fm}1fm).

Nuclear Stability

The stability of a nucleus depends on the balance between the strong nuclear force and the
repulsive electrostatic force between protons. Neutrons help to stabilize the nucleus by
increasing the overall strong force without adding to the electrostatic repulsion. Nuclei with too
many or too few neutrons compared to protons tend to be unstable and may undergo radioactive
decay.

 Light elements (low atomic number) are typically stable when N≈ZN \approx ZN≈Z.
 Heavy elements (high atomic number) require more neutrons than protons to be stable
because of the increased repulsive force between protons.

Radioactivity

Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of particles or electromagnetic radiation by an


unstable nucleus as it transforms into a more stable configuration. The three main types of
radioactive decay are:

1. Alpha Decay (α\alphaα-decay) In alpha decay, the nucleus emits an alpha particle,
which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons (a helium nucleus). The emission of an alpha
particle decreases the atomic number by 2 and the mass number by 4:

ZAX→Z−2A−4Y+24α^A_Z \text{X} \rightarrow ^{A-4}_{Z-2} \text{Y} + ^4_2 \


alphaZAX→Z−2A−4Y+24α

Example:

92238U→90234Th+24α^{238}_{92} \text{U} \rightarrow ^{234}_{90} \text{Th} +


^4_2 \alpha92238U→90234Th+24α

2. Beta Decay (β\betaβ-decay) In beta decay, a neutron is transformed into a proton or vice
versa, accompanied by the emission of a beta particle (an electron or positron) and an
antineutrino or neutrino.
o Beta-minus (β−\beta^-β−) decay: A neutron is converted into a proton, and an
electron (e−e^-e−) and an antineutrino are emitted: ZAX→Z+1AY+e−+νˉe^A_Z \
text{X} \rightarrow ^A_{Z+1} \text{Y} + e^- + \bar{\nu}_eZAX→Z+1AY+e−
+νˉe Example: 614C→714N+e−+νˉe^{14}_6 \text{C} \rightarrow ^{14}_7 \
text{N} + e^- + \bar{\nu}_e614C→714N+e−+νˉe
o Beta-plus (β+\beta^+β+) decay: A proton is converted into a neutron, and a
positron (e+e^+e+) and a neutrino are emitted: ZAX→Z−1AY+e++νe^A_Z \
text{X} \rightarrow ^A_{Z-1} \text{Y} + e^+ + \nu_eZAX→Z−1AY+e++νe
Example: 611C→511B+e++νe^{11}_6 \text{C} \rightarrow ^{11}_5 \text{B} +
e^+ + \nu_e611C→511B+e++νe
3. Gamma Decay (γ\gammaγ-decay) After alpha or beta decay, the daughter nucleus may
still be in an excited state. To reach its ground state, it emits a high-energy photon called
a gamma ray. Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation and do not change
the number of protons or neutrons in the nucleus:

ZAX∗→ZAX+γ^A_Z \text{X}^* \rightarrow ^A_Z \text{X} + \gammaZAX∗→ZAX+γ


Example:

2760Co∗→2760Co+γ^{60}_{27} \text{Co}^* \rightarrow ^{60}_{27} \text{Co} + \


gamma2760Co∗→2760Co+γ

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