Quantum Mechanics of Alpha Decay MITα衰变的量子力学麻省理工学院.pptVIP

Quantum Mechanics of Alpha Decay Lulu Liu Partner: Pablo Solis Classical Mechanics: What Do We Expect to See? V(r) = ZZ? e2 / r Quantum Tunneling WKB Approximation Verifying the Geiger-Nuttall Law Measure energy of emitted alphas Naturally Occurring Radioactive Series Bateman Equations Governs time evolution Can Detector to MCA Setup Rn-222 Half-Life Using Scintillator Plot of Rn-222 Activity Energy Spectrum from Can Detector Evolution of Peaks Po-218 Half-Life - Method Po-218 Half-Life Fit Bi-211 and Bi-212 Half-Lives Initial Conditions: assume equilibrium dA/dt = dB/dt = dC/dt ... A, B, C are amounts of different isotopes in decay chain Bi-212 Fit to Bateman Equations Geiger-Nuttall Fit Errors Half-Lives: statistical Error- Continued Conclusions Geiger-Nuttall Law verified Po-218 Transient Behavior Geiger-Nuttall Derivation Lack of Rise Time in Po-218 Comparing Parameters m theoretical: -1.3 m measured: -3.3 * * * 8.13 Junior Lab Experiment #4 December 5, 2007 image from nu.phys.laurentian.ca r0 ~ fm, V(r0) is energy minimum Less than energy min! It happens at all! What is alpha decay? We see V(r0) E? image from hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu T is transmission coefficient, R is radius of nucleus. derived in Yung-Kuo Lim (originally by Gamow) Geiger-Nuttall Law / Gamow Relation: where ? = 1/? Measure half-lives, ?1/2 Plot Ln(1/?) vs. Z*E-1/2 (look for linear relation) Errors Conclusions Equipment Radioactive Series and Bateman Equations for A decays into B: solve: to MCA ... Decay chains start with Po Result: Equilibrium established in several hours Assumption: Initially Pure Rn-222 Background ~1/s Measured Value: ?1/2 = 3.99 § 0.36 days Accepted Value: ?1/2 = 3.84 days Calibrated to Po-212 alpha energy of 8.78 MeV E - Integrate for 20s every minute Assume constant background Po-212 (.3 ?s halflife) daughter isotope of Bi-212 Po-218 Po-212 Account for Bi-212 activity - Halt supply of Po atoms - Po-218/Bi-212/Rn-220 etc Measured Value: ?1/2 = 3.14 § 0.33