Department of Physics & Astronomy

ASTR708 2/201t: home assignment N6

Deadline: Monday Nov 13

Q1 Lithium [15 points]

Assume that in the shell model the nucleon energy levels are ordered as shown in Figure 7.4 of
Martin (Notes Set 6.3, p. 6).
Write down the shell-model configuration of the nucleus 73 Li and find its spin and parity.
Give the two most likely configurations for the first excited state, assuming that only protons are
excited.
Explain why it is a plausible assumption.

Q2 Geiger-Nuttal relation [25 points]

Already in 1911 it was found that with a very good approximation
Z
log T1 2 a b ,
Q
where Z is the charge number of the daughter nucleus, and Q is the kinetic energy of the -
particle.
The lifetime-energy relationship for the
isotopes of four different elements

Q ,MeV1/2

(a) [15 points] A more sophisticated expression for the decay probability per unit time consist of
three factors: (i) the probability w0 of finding the -particle in the nucleus (it can be considered to
be constant for all nuclei); (ii) the frequency of collisions of the -particle with the barrier
(velocity of the -particle over the diameter); (iii) Gamow factor,
v
w w0 eG .
2rs
 Department of Physics & Astronomy

Use this formula to explain the Geiger-Nuttal relation.

(b) [10 points] Calculate the values of a and b for the isotopes on the figure and compare with the
experimental data.

Q3 Decay of gold [20 points]

79 Au undergoes a -decay with the mean lifetime of 56 hours,
(a) The isotope 194
78 Pt+e 1.5MeV .

194
79 Au 194
The positron in this decay is created in the nucleus and must tunnel through a Coulomb barrier to
escape, similarly to our discussion of the -decay.
Show that the barrier factor suppresses the decay rate to a positron with an energy ~1 MeV only
by a factor of about four.

(b) The -decay

194
79 Au 190
74 Ir+ 2 He 1.8MeV
4

is possible, but despite a larger (than in the competing -decay) energy gain it was never
observed. Estimate the mean life for this mode of decay.

Q4 Mirror nuclei and their size [20 points]

11 11
The binding energies of the mirror nuclei 5 B and 6 C are 76.205 MeV and 73.443 MeV,
respectively. Assuming the difference is entirely due to Coulomb repulsion, and that the proton
charge is uniformly distributed through a sphere of radius rC in both nuclei, find rC. This was an
early way of estimating the size of a nucleus. Compare the results with R 1.12 A1/3 .

Q5 Neutron detector [20 points]

Helium detectors were a popular way of detecting low-energy (thermal) neutrons and were used in
many remarkable experiments. They are based on detecting the currents due to charged ionizing
particled that are produced during the reaction
n+ 23 He p+ 31 H+0.73MeV .
The cross-section for this reaction follows 1/v law,
c
0.039 barns ,
v
where c is the speed of light. The mean distance a neutron travels in the gas before it interacts
with one of its atoms is l 1 , where is the number density of He. The detector operates at
10bar pressure.

What should be its thikness in order to detect at least 90% of neutrons with the kinetic energy
0.1eV?
(Note that the probability to travel a distance x into the gas without interaction is e x / l ).