PHGN 422: Homework 2 (computational only)

Exercise 1 Liquid Drop Model The objective of this exercise is to compare the experimental binding energies per nucleon B/A across the chart of nuclei with the predictions from the liquid drop model as defined in class and given again below:
A B( Z X N ) = av A ! as A 2/3 ! ac Z ( Z ! 1) A !1/3 ! asym ( A ! 2 Z )2 A !1 + ! a p A !3/4

with av=15.85MeV, as=18.34MeV, ac=0.71MeV, asym=23.21MeV and ap=12MeV (Note: =+1 for even Z and even N, =0 for odd Z and even N or even Z and odd N, and =-1 for odd Z and odd N). 1. Download the data file in the homework section of the PHGN422 webpage. The file is formatted as follows: A <tab> Z <tab> Binding Energy (in keV). Write a computer program that reads this data file and extract the experimental binding energy per nucleon Bexp/A for each nucleus. Plot Bexp/A as a function of A (scatter plot). You should get something very similar to the picture(s) shown in class (Hint: dont forget to convert Bexp from keV to MeV!). 2. In the same computer program (for simplicity), compute the binding energy per nucleon Bliq/A predicted by the liquid drop model for the same set of nuclei. Plot Bliq/A as a function of A (scatter plot). You should get something very similar to the Bexp/A distribution. Overlay the two distributions (using two different colors please indicate which one is which!). 3. As mentioned in class, we are particularly interested by the difference between the two quantities as it reveals the fraction of the binding energy that cannot be predicted by the semi-classical model. a. Plot A ! ( Bexp A ) " ( Bliq A ) as a function of Z (scatter plot). Identify Z=28,

Z=50 and Z=82. b. Plot A ! ( Bexp A ) " ( Bliq A ) as a function of N (scatter plot). Identify N=28,

N=50, N=82 and N=126. These particular numbers of Z and N are the so-called Magic Numbers in nuclear physics, they correspond to nuclei with closed shell structure in protons and neutrons conferring these nuclei more overall stability (and therefore more binding energy) than their neighboring nuclei. Exercise 2 Radioactive decay chains The objective of this exercise is to calculate the evolution of Ni(t) and Ai(t) for two real decay chains looking like where Ni(t) and Ai(t) describe respectively the evolution of the number of radioactive atoms and the evolution of the activity for species i (with decay constant i) as a function of time. Species 4 is considered stable, and therefore its associated decay constant ! 4=0. 1. Write a computer program able to calculate the coefficient aki based on the solutions of Batemans equations applied to radioactive decay Use a11 = N10 = 1000.
1 2 3 ( N1, A1 ) # # $( N 2 , A2 ) # # $( N 3 , A3 ) # # $( N 4 , A4 ) ,

"

"

"

The first decay chain is

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1/2 1/2 1/2 Na " " " "#30 Mg " " " "#30 Al " " " "#30 Si( stable)

T 1 = 50 ms

T 2 = 0.32 s

T 3 = 3.68 s

2. What are the numerical values for a11, a21, a22, a31, a32, a33, a41, a42, a43, a44?

! 3. Draw the evolution of the number of radioactive atoms as a function of time

from t=0 to t=50s for all 4 species in the same graph. Use a different color or line style for each species. Use a logarithmic scale for the X-axis, as the two first species decay rapidly. To make sure your result is correct, make the following checks: a. N1(t=0s) should be N10=1000 b. N1(t), N2(t) and N3(t) should be ~0 at t=50s, while N4(t=50s) should be ~1000. Why?

4. Draw the evolution of the activity as a function of time from t=0 to t=50s for all 4 species in the same graph. Use the same color or line style for each species as in (2). Use a logarithmic scale for the X-axis and the Y-axis (low limit set around 0.1). To make sure your result is correct, make the following check: a. The maximum activity for species i (1<i<4) is reached when Ai(t)=Ai-1(t). Justify why? [Hint: go back to the general differential equations]. b. A4(t)=0 whatever t. Why? 5. From your graph, estimate the maximum activity reached by species 1, 2 and 3 in [Bq]. At which time t, these maxima happen? 6. Repeat steps (2), (3), (4) and (5) for the second decay chain:
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In this case, consider an interval of time from t=0 to t=500s.

1/2 1/2 1/2 Ga " " "#80Ge " " " "#80 As " " "#80 Se( stable)

T 1 =1.7 s

T 2 = 29.5 s

T 3 =16 s