Joseph Magill Nuclides.net

Transcription

1 Joseph Magill Nuclides.net

2 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH

3 Joseph Magill Nuclides.net An Integrated Environment for Computations on Radionuclides and their Radiation With 268 Figures, 236 in Colour 79 Tables and a CD-ROM EUROPEAN COMMISSION JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE Springer

4 Joseph Magill European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute of Transuranium Elements P. O. Box Karlsruhe, Germany Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Magill, Joseph, Nuclides.net: an integrated environment for computations on radionuclides and their radiation / Joseph Magill, p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN ISBN (ebook) DOI / Radioisotopes. 2. Radioisotopes-Computer network resources. 3. Nuclides.net (Computer file) I. Title QC795.8.R3 M / 52-dc ISBN This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must use must always be obtained from Springer-Verlag. Violations are liable for prosecution under the German Copyright Law. http: //www. springer, de Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003 Originally published by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York in 2003 The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Please note: All rights pertaining to the software (program and handbook) are owned exclusively by the author, the European Communities and Springer-Verlag. The software is protected by copyright. The author, the European Communities and Springer-Verlag accept no legal responsibility for any damage caused by improper use of the instructions and programs contained in this book and the CD-ROM. Although the software has been tested with extreme care, errors in the software cannot be excluded. Decompiling, disassembling, reverse engineering or in any way changing the program is expressly forbidden. Typeset in Word by the author and edited by PublicationService Gisela Koch, Wiesenbach, using a modified Springer LAT^X macro-package. Cover design: design & production GmbH, Heidelberg SPIN: /

5 Preface Nuclides.net is an integrated environment for computations on radionuclides and their radiation. The "integrated environment" is a suite of computer programs ranging from a powerful user-friendly interface, which allows the user to navigate the nuclide chart and explore the properties of nuclides, to various computational modules for decay calculations, dosimetry and shielding calculations, etc. The main emphasis in Nuclides.net is on nuclear science applications. The Nuclides.net applications have arisen out of the author's experience in a variety of fields in nuclear science ranging from advanced nuclear fuel cycles, accelerator driven systems, non-proliferation and safeguards, to aerosol science. The data used in Nuclides.net comes from a variety of intenationally recognised data sources (see Appendix 2 - The Nuclides.net Database). In contrast to the CD-based Nuclides 20001,2 predecessor, the applications in Nuclides.net run over the internet on a web server. The user interface to these applications is via a web browser. Information submitted by the user is sent to the appropriate applications resident on the web server. The results of the calculations are returned to the user, again via the browser. Nuclides.net has been developed at the Institute for Transuranium Elements, a European Commission laboratory in Karlsruhe, Germany. The product is aimed at professionals and students for reference data on radionuclides and computations based on this data using the latest internet technology. It is particularly suitable for educational purposes in the nuclear industry, health physics and radiation protection, and in nuclear and radiochemistry. Comments or suggestions on this product should be sent to: Dr. Joseph Magill, European Commission, Directorate-General JRC, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements (ltv), p. O. Box 2340, Karlsruhe, Germany - magill@itu.fzk.de Magill: Nuclides 2000: An Electronic Chart of the Nuclides on CD-ROM, European Commission 1999, Institute for Transuranium Elements, Karlsruhe, Germany, ISBN , EUR EN. For further information, see the Nuclides.net website at Magill: Nuclides 2000: An Electronic Chart of the Nuclides on CD-ROM. Atomwirtschaft 45. Jg., Heft 10 - Oktober (2000).

6 VI Preface Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr. Roland Schenkel, director of the Institute for Transuranium Elements, for his support and enthusiasm. Special thanks go to all at Bilbomatica S.A. in Bilbao for the technical realisation of the project. In particular I would like to thank Angel Echevarria, Sonia Paniagua, Txemi Fernandez, Carlos Abad, and Ruben Martin. Very special thanks go also to Dr. Jean Galy for his dedication to the project and for the development of new software modules. Jean developed the new modules for dosimetry & shielding and for fission product yields. He also played a significant role in the development of the "virtual nuclides" module for mixtures of nuclides. I would also like to thank Ms.Yvonne Galla for the development of the Universal Nuclide Chart. Thanks go also to Dr. Jens Otto of our technology transfer unit in Brussels and Mr. Luis Ferrao from DG ENTR for their help in contractual and legal matters which arose in the course of the publication of Nuclides.net. Thanks also to Dr. Claus Ascheron, physics editor at Springer-Verlag in Heidelberg, for his enthusiasm for the project and for the many discussions we had on the book. I would also like to thank many colleagues at the Institute who have helped. Special thanks go to Dr. Piet van Belle for discussions and help with the decay database, Ms. Daniela Weichhold for secretarial support, Mr. I.-P. Michel and Ms. Fieny Pijls for their administrative support, and the various "guinea pigs" who tried and tested the various beta versions of the program. The idea for the Nuclides Explorer user-interface and the Forum and Newsboard in Nuclides.net arose from the enthusiasm of my children Nicholas and Niels for computer games. These games and especially their internet counterparts never cease to be a source of inspiration for me (and for them!). Finally I would like to thank my wife Daniela for her patience - das "Ding" ist jetzt fertig! Karlsruhe, September 2002 Joseph Magill Disclaimer Neither the European Commission or any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information.

7 Contents A Quick Tour of Nuclides.net The Installation Menu The Nuclide Explorer Data Fission Yields and Averaged Cross Sections Search Decay Engine Dosimetry & Shielding Virtual Nuclides Universal Nuclide Chart Forum & News Getting Started with Nuclides.net The Nuclides.net Program Suite Computer System Requirements End User License Agreement (EULA) Installing Nuclides.net on a Hard Disk Starting Nuclides.net Direct Access to the Webserver News and Forums Scientific Notation Screen Captures Background on Radioactivity The Atom Discovery of Radioactivity Structure of the Atom and Nucleus Synthesis of the Elements Nuclide Stability - The Nuclide Chart Nuclides Masses and the Atomic Mass Unit Binding Energy Radioactive Decay Alpha (a) Decay Beta-minus ( ~ Decay. - )

8 VIII Contents Gamma Emission and Internal Conversion Isomeric Transitions (IT) Beta-plus ( ~ Decay + ) (Positron Emission) Electron Capture (E) Spontaneous Fission (SF) Proton Decay Special Beta-Decay Processes Heavy-Ion or Cluster Radioactivity Magic Radioactivity Nuclear Reactions Cross-sections Neutron Reactions Decay and Reaction Paths Nuclide Charts Decay Processes and Nuclear Reactions Paper-Based Nuclide Charts References Nuclide Explorer Navigational Interface The Taskbar "Build Your Own" Nuclide Chart DataSheets Mass Excess Mass Half-life and the Decay Constant Nuclear Spin Nuclear Isomers Parity Number of Decay Modes Decay Modes Branching Ratios (BR) Decay Energy, Q Daughter Products Mean Decay Energies per Disintegration Spectral Information Effective Dose Coefficients FactSheets Average (Mean) Lifetime Specific Activity Isotopic Power Spontaneous Fission (SF) Rate Specific Gamma Dose Rate at 1 m Annual Limits ofintake... 91

9 Contents IX Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Materials Fission Yields Cross-sections Case Study: Neutron Irradiation of Thorium Element Information Articles Weblinks Search Search the Database Search Nuclides.net Decay Engine, A Simple Radioactive Decay Radioactive Decay Chains Convergent and Divergent Branches Radioactive Equilibria (fl» f2): Secular Equilibrium (fl > f2): Transient Equilibrium (fl < f2): The Half-life of the Parent is Shorter than that of the Daughter (fl ~ f2): The Half-lives of the Parent and Daughter are Similar Decay Calculations I User Interface Options Print Graph Details Examples Case Study: The Radioactive Decay of 60Co Case Study: The Radioactive Decay of 232U Case Study: How "Hot" is 242mAm? Case Study: "Age" Determination of Plutonium Particles Case Study: Alpha-Immunotherapy: 2l3Bi "Milking" from 225 Ac for Cancer Treatment References Dosimetry and Shielding, r Absorbed Dose Dose Rate Quality or Weighting Factor

10 x Contents Equivalent Dose Effective Dose Attenuation of Gamma Radiation Absorption of Gamma Radiation Calculation of the Equivalent Dose Rate Absorption in Tissue Attenuation in Shield Materials Build-up Factors (B) for Shield Materials The f-dose Module User Interface Options Window Results Window Graph Window Input/Output Restrictions Validation of the ResultslBenchmarking Case Study: Shielding 24Na Case Study: Shielding 60Co Case Study: Gamma Radiography with 192Ir Case Study: Thickness of Neptunium Targets Summary References Virtual Nuclides, A Application of Virtual Nuclides to Radioactive Decay Properties of the Virtual Parent Application of Virtual Nuclides to Dosimetry and Shielding The Virtual Nuclides Module Creating a Virtual Nuclide Storing the Virtual Nuclide Information Running Applications with Virtual Nuclides Examples Case Study: A Simple Two Component Mixture Case Study: Multi-Component Mixtures Case Study: Application to Fission Case Study: Laser Induced Fission of Uranium Case Study: Laser Irradiation of Copper Fission Products and Yields, Y Nuclear Fission The Fission Yield Module Definitions of Fission Yields Fission Product Yield Comparisons Fission Product Yield Comparisons: Parents

11 Contents XI Fission Product Yield Comparisons: Elements Fission Product Yield Comparisons: Masses (Isobars) Fission Product Yield Comparisons: Libraries The Chain Yield Window References The Universal Nuclide Chart User Interface: Nuclide Chart Viewer Nuclide Chart Viewer..., Basic Settings View Basic Decay and Cross-section Data Navigation Select Nuclide Colour Scheme... " Chart Size Colour Decay Chain and Reaction Path Radioactive Decay Chain Simulator Time Step Start/Stop Plot Th2321U2351U MinBR(%) E(MeV) Neutron Reaction Path Simulator Neutron Flux Reaction Index Time Step Reaction Products References Applications of Radionuclides Medical Applications Industrial Applications Scientific/Research Applications References Recommended Reading and Weblinks Reading Weblinks Glossary

12 XII Contents Appendices Appendix 1: The Atomic Mass Unit Appendix 2: The Nuclides.net Database Appendix 3: Tables of Mass Attenuation Coefficients Appendix 4: Tables of Buildup Factors Appendix 5: Physical Constants, Conversion Factors, Prefixes, Greek Alphabet Appendix 6: Table of the Elements Appendix 7: Actinide Critical Masses Index

13 Inserts An Astrophysical Clock Age of the Earth - a Brief History of Radioactivity Halo Nuclides The Super-Heavy Elements A Short History of the Karlsruhe Chart of the Nuclides Strasbourg Nuclide Chart How Constant is the Decay Constant? High Background Radiation Areas Around the World Radiotoxicity and Annual Limits of Intake (ALI) Very Long-Term "Packaging" of Radioactive Materials - Nuclear Waste Disposal Nuclear Batteries for Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Conan the Bacterium Prehistoric Cave Art at Altamira