Chem 406/Nuc E 405 Nuclear and Radiochemistry Fall Semester 2010

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1 Chem 406/Nuc E 405 Nuclear and Radiochemistry Fall Semester 2010 INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Gary L. Catchen Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering 226 Reber Building and Breazeale Nuclear Reactor Building The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA (814) , g9c@psu.psu.edu COURSE OBJECTIVE: The objective of this course is to introduce you to the theories and phenomena of nuclear science. The level of the course is such that you will obtain enough depth of understanding so that you can apply nuclear science principles to your field of interest. The course focuses on the fundamental ideas in the following areas of study: 1. Phenomena of nuclear properties and structure 2. Kinetics of radioactive decay 3. Theory of radioactive decay 4. Theory and phenomena of nuclear reactions 5. Interactions of radiation with matter and biological effects of radiation In this particular course, you have the opportunity to video tutorials, which we developed during a year-long project to enable you to learn material that is usually taught to firstyear graduate students. TEXT: "Nuclear and Radiochemistry," by G. Friedlander, J. W. Kennedy, E. S. Macias, and J. M. Miller (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1981, 3rd ed.). VIDEO TUTORIALS: Fourteen video tutorials, which each are approximately 50 minutes in length, are available in the Sparks Learning Center, Room 7. A subset is available on ANGEL. These tutorials consist of the detailed solution of various problems. Many of these problems have been taken from old homework assignments and examinations. For these tutorials to be effective, you must view them during the time when we are covering the corresponding material in class. Do not wait until a day or two before an examination to view these tapes.

2 EXAMINATIONS I will hold three examinations. The final examination will be comprehensive; but, in it, I will emphasize the material covered during the last third of the course. Normally the examination will be open-book and open-notes. Generally I base the examination on the homework. Therefore, it is very important that you do the homework, check your results against the solutions, and resolve any discrepancies. HOMEWORK I encourage you to prepare all homework assignments using the following format. 1. Place the solution to each problem on a separate page. 2. Write neatly on only one side of the page, and do not include preliminary scratch work. 3. Present your solution as a methodical sequence of equations and comments. 4. Where appropriate, include a schematic sketch. 5. Include the equations that you will evaluate numerically. 6. When evaluating numerical expressions, you must include all units in each step of a calculation. 7. Neatly staple the pages together, before you turn in the assignment. COURSE GRADE: PREREQUISITES: First Midterm 30% Second Midterm 30% Final 30% Homework 10% 100% I strongly recommend that you take Chem 451 and preferably Chem 452 before registering for Chem 406 or that you take Nuc E 301 before registering for Nuc E 405. OFFICE HOURS: 226 Reber Building, Wednesdays, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Tuesdays, 8:30 AM 9:30 AM, and by appointment Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated, and sanctions will be imposed, which could result in a final grade of F. If you have any questions about what constitutes academic dishonesty, ask me for clarification, or visit

3 Chem 406/Nuc E Nuclear and Radiochemistry Course Outline DATE August 24 August 26 August 31 September 2 September 7 September 9 September 14 September 16 September 21 September 23 September 28 September 30 October 5 October 7 October 12 October 19 October 21 TOPIC Historical Notes, Statistical Nature of Radioactivity Types of Radioactivity Law of Radioactive Decay Nuclear Properties - Mass, Binding Energy Reaction Rates and Cross Sections Kinetics of Radioactive Decay Kinetics of Radioactive Decay Nuclear Forces, Nuclear Size, Nuclear Potential Liquid-Drop Model Nuclear Spin & Angular-Momentum Vector Addition Nuclear Moments, Parity, and Statistics First Midterm Examination** Introduction to Quantum Mechanics Schrödinger's Equation One-dimensional Particle-in-a-Box Spherical geometry Separation of Schrödinger s Equation

4 NucE 406/Chem Nuclear and Radiochemistry Course Outline (Continued) DATE October 26 Spherical Box TOPIC October 28 November 2 November 4 November 9 November 11 November 16 November 18 November 30 December 2 December 3 December 7 December 9 Single-Particle Shell Model Single-Particle Shell Model Second Midterm Examination** Theory of Alpha-Decay Theory of Alpha-Decay Theory of Beta-Decay Theory of Beta-Decay Gamma-Ray Decay Reaction Models Fission Biological Effects of Radiation Biological Effects of Radiation **Dates for examinations and for submitting homework assignments are tentative. Labor Day: September 6, 2010; no class. Fall Break: November 22 28, 2010; no classes. # When appropriate, we will examine news stories published in the New York Times that have relevant content.

5 VIDEO TUTORIALS Program No. Title 1 Simple Radioactive Decay Calculations 2 Coupling of Two Angular Momenta 3 One-Dimensional Particle-in-a-Box Problem 4 Predicting Nuclear Spins From Single-Particle Shell Model States 5 Calculating Alpha-Decay Constants Using the Barrier Penetration Model 6 Applying Beta-Decay Selection Rules 7 Determining Gamma-Ray Multipolarities and Analyzing Decay Schemes 8 Radiation Interactions: Some Example Problems* 9 Elastic Scattering Kinematics -- Lab-to-Centerof-Mass Transformation* 10 Rate Equations and Nuclear Reactions 11 Nuclear Reactions: Energy and Angular Momentum Effects* 12 Compound Nuclei Formed in Heavy-Ion Reactions* 13 Dose Calculations for Spatially-Distributed Sources* 14 Dose Calculations Continued* *No longer available at the University Learning Center

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