Nuclear Reactions

By
Sajid Tanweer Jadoon
Department of Physics
Govt Akhter Nawaz Khan (S) Degree College KTS Haripur
Nuclear Reactions
 A nuclear reaction a process which occurs when a nuclear particle (e.g. a nucleon, an
elementary particle or nucleus) come into close contact with another nuclei during
which exchange of energy and momentum take place is know as nuclear reaction.
(OR)
 The Process of bombarding a target nucleus by fast moving projectile and the
subsequent nitration between the two, which alters the composition, energy,
momentum etc. of the target nucleus is known as nuclear reaction. This also known
as transmutation of one element into another.
In general one can represent a nuclear reaction by an equation
x+X --------------------Y + y+Q (OR) a+X --------------------Y + b +Q
(OR)
X (x,y) Y OR X(a,b)Y
Here X = Target Nucleus, x = Incident Particle or Projectile Particle,Y = Product
Nuclei, y = Out going particle or emitting Particle
Q = Q-value of reaction ( Energy released or Absorb)

For Example: 4 + 4Be9 -------------------- 6C12 + 0n1

2He
Kind of Nuclear Reaction
1. Elastic Scattering
 In such reaction, the outgoing particle and the incident
particle, target nuclei and product nuclei are identical and
there is no loss or gain of energy of the incident projectile
but direction of incident particle may changes.
 This process can be represented as X (x ,x)X.
 2. INELASTIC SCATTERING
 In this type of reaction y (emitting particle ) is same as x
(incident Particle) but it has different energy and angular
momentum. Obviously the residual nucleus Y = X is left in
excited state. In inelastic scattering the incident particle loses
some of its K.E to the Target nucleus and particles are scattered
in different direction with different energy.
 This processes can be represented X (x,y) X*, Where * on X
indicates that this is an excited state of X.
1 27 *27 + H1
1H + 13Al -------------- 13Al 1
4 56 56 4
2 He + 26Fe ------------- 26Fe* + 2He
3. Disintegration Reaction
 In this type of reaction when the projectile, hit the target
nucleus and it is observed that different particle is emitted.
This processes can be represented as X(x,y)Y, where X, x,Y
and y are all different either in Z or in A or in both. The first
nuclear transmutation observed by Rutherford,
4. Radioactive Capture
 The reaction in which the projectile or incident particle (x) is
absorbed by the target nucleus (X) to form the excited
compound nucleus (C)*. The compound nucleus
subsequently returns to ground state by the emission of one
or more gamma ray photon. This process can be represented
as X(x,y)Y*, (Y=C)
 1H1 + 13Al 27 ---------(14Si28) *--------14Si28 + r-ray
 2He4 + 6C12 ------ (8O16) ---------- 8O16 + r-ray
5. Compound Nuclear Reaction
 In this type of reaction the incident particle is absorbed by
the target and a component nucleus is formed, which lives
for 10-14 to 10-15 seconds and then particle or group of
particle is rejected. For example

4 + 28Ni60 ------------ 30Zn64-------29Cu62+ 1H1+0n1

 2He
 6.Photo-Disintegration Reaction
 The target nucleus is bombarded with very high energy gamma
rays photon , so that its is raised to an excited state by the
absorption of r-rays. If the energy of r-rays is high enough, the
compound nucleus may disintegrate in to one or group of
particles. The reaction can be expressed as X(r,y) Y.

16 + r --------------- 6C12 +2 1H1 + 30n1

8O
 7. Direct Reactions/Stripping Reaction
 In some cases fast moving incident particle while crossing through the
nucleus or very close to the nucleus either picks up one or few
nucleons to the nucleus and keep on moving in the forward direction.
First type of reaction is known as pickup reaction and while the
second type of reaction are known as stripping reactions. Both of these
reaction together are known as direct reaction. The reaction time of
direct reaction is of the order of 10-21 to 10-27 Seconds.
Pickup reaction are
 27Co59 + 1H1 -------- 26Fe57 +2He4
 21Sc45 + 2He3 ------- 21Sc44 + 2He4

Stripping reaction are

 29Cu63 + 1H2 --------- 29Cu64 + 1H1
 79Au197 + 1H2 --------- 80Hg190 + 0 n1
8. Heavy Ion Reactions
 The reaction in which an incident particle is a fast moving
heavy ion is known a heavy ion reaction.

 For example when 82Pb207 is accelerated to high energy and
bombarded on 47 Ag107 target
 82Pb207 + 47 Ag107---------------- 47Ag106 +82Pb208
9. Spontaneous Nuclear Reaction
 In this type reactions a heavies nuclei decay spontaneously by the
emission of Alpha and beta decay.

10. High Energy Reaction for Elementary particle Production:

 The reaction in which high energy (E> 300Mev) incident particle like
proton etc interact with proton or neutrons a variety of elementary
particle like mesons, pions etc are produced.
 11. Nuclear Fission Reaction
 In this type of reaction Heavy nucleus is split in to two lighter
nuclei of comparable masses with the emission of energy. An
example
12. Nuclear Fusion Reaction
 In this reaction two lighter nuclei are combine to form
heaver nucleus, the reaction is called nuclear fusion reaction.
• 1H2 + 1H3 ---------------- 2He4 + Q
• 1H2 + 1H2 ------------------- 2He3 + 0n1 + Q
• 2He3 + 2He3 ---------------- 2He4 + 1H1 + Q
CONSERVATION LAW OF NUCLAR REACTION
A nuclear reaction usually follows certain Conservation Laws
 Conservation of mass number
 Conservation atomic number
 Conservation of energy
 Conservation of linear momentum
 Conservation of Angular momentum
 Conservation of Nucleons
 Conservation of Spin
 Conservation of Parity
1. Conservation of Nucleons/ Mass Number
The total number of proton and neutrons in the nuclei taking part
in nuclear reaction remain unchanged after the reaction. Obviously
in a reaction X(x,y)Y, the sum of mass number of X and x must be
equal to the sum of mass numbers of Y and y. i.e
A+a = A’ + a’
 2. Conservation Atomic Number/Charge
 In nuclear reaction the total number of proton of nuclei taking part
in a reaction remain unchanged after the reaction i.e the sum of
atomic number of X and x is equal to sum of atomic number Y and y.
Thus nuclear charge cannot be created nor destroyed
Z+z = Z’+z’


 n1----------- H1 + - e0 +Anti-neutrino
0 1 1
 3. Conservation of Mass-energy
 In any nuclear reaction, the total energy of reactant,
(including both rest mass energy and kinetic energy for a non-
relativistic case) is always equal to the total energy of the
products (rest mass energy plus K.E). Consider a reaction
 a+X = -----Y+b
 Let MX, ma , MY, and mb are the rest masses of different
nuclei, the rest mass energies are MXc2, mac2 , MYc2 and mbc2
respectively.
 Ka + ma c2 + KX + MXc2 + = KY + MY c2 + K b + mb c2,
Where K = K.E of particle/nuclei
Assuming Target nucleus X is initially at rest than KX = 0
 Ka + ma c2 + MXc2 + = KY + MY c2 + K b + mb c2,
4. Conservation of Linear Momentum
 In nuclear reaction the total linear momentum of the products
must be equal to the linear momentum of the bombarding
participle. The target nucleus is normally considered to be at
rest.
 If PX, Pa, PY and Pb be the momentum of the different nuclei
taking part in the nuclear reaction, then conservation of linear
momentum gives
PX + Pa = PY +Pb
If the target nucleus is at rest i.e PX = 0 then
Pa = PY +Pb
 5. Conservation of Angular momentum
 The total angular momentum I (I = L+S) comparing the vector
sum of the intrinsic Spin angular momentum S and relative
orbital momentum L of the product (Product and Outgoing)
must be equal to the total angular momentum of the initial
(incident and Target) particle.
 Let IX, Ia, IY and Ib denote the nuclear spins (Angular momentum)
f nuclei X, a ,Y, and b of a nuclear reaction X(a,b)Y.
 According to law of conservation of energy
IX +Ia = IY+ Ib
 6. Conservation of Spin
The total spin of products must be equal to the total spin of reactant Particle
(OR) this law states that the spin character of closed system cannot change
i.e. that statistics remain same that excited before and after the reaction.
 If the vectorial sum of the spins of the reactants is an odd integral multiple of h/2
(h Cut)than the vectorial sum of the spin of product must be also odd integral
multiple of h/2 (h cut). consider the decay of neutron
 0n1----------- 1H1 + -1e0 +Anti-neutrino
 Since the spin of all the particles involved in the reaction is ½ so the L.H.S has
Spin ½ and the RHS can have spin ½ or 3/2. Thus, this satisfies the law of
conservation of spin.
 Similarly if the vectorial sum of spins of the reactant is an integral multiple of h
(h-cut), then the vectorial sum of spin of product must also be an integer
multiple of h (h-Cut)
7. Conservation of Statistics
Conservation of Lepton Number
CONSERVATION OF PARITY
 In nuclear reaction the parity is conserved i.e. the
parity i, before the reaction must be equal to the
parity f after the reaction. In strong interaction
nuclear reaction, no volition of parity has been
observed so far. How ever parity does not appear to be
conserved in weak interaction.
Q value of Nuclear Reaction
OR
Nuclear Reaction Energy
 Q value of Nuclear Reaction
 The total energy absorbed or emitted during the nuclear reaction is
called Q-Value of nuclear reaction (OR) difference of K.E before and
after nuclear reaction is called Q-Value. Consider the nuclear reaction
X + a = -----Y+ b
 Consider the nuclear reaction in which lighter projectile particle of
mass ma and energy Ka interact with a nucleus (Target) of mass Mx of
energy Kx and MY is mass of product nucleus and Kb is the Kinetic
energy of emitting particle
According to law of conservation of Mass-Energy
 Ka + ma c2 + KX + MXc2 = KY + MY c2 + K b + mb c2,
Where K = K.E of particle/nuclei
Assuming Target nucleus X is initially at rest than KX = 0
 Ka + ma c2 + MXc2 = KY + MY c2 + K b + mb c2,
Q-value of Nuclear Reaction

Ka + ma c2 + MXc2 = KY + MY c2 + K b + mb c2,
Rearranging equation
ma c2 + MXc2 - mb c2 - MY c2 = KY + K b – Ka
(ma + MX ) c2 – (mb2 + MY ) c2 = KY + K b – Ka
Where KY + K b – Ka = Q
Q = (ma + MX ) c2 – (mb2 + MY ) c2
Or
Q = {(ma + MX ) – (mb2 + MY )} c2
 For Positive Q-value of Nuclear Reaction
As Q-Value of Nuclear reaction is
Q = {(ma + MX ) – (mb2 + MY )} c2 and Q = {KY + K b } – Ka

i. Q-Value of reaction is Positive when (ma + MX ) > (mb + MY )

i.e masses of Reactant is greater that masses of Product
ii. Q-Value of reaction is Positive when {KY + K b } > Ka i.e
K.E of Products is greater than K.E of Reactant
This type of nuclear reaction is know as exothermic or exoergic
reaction.
There is a net decrease in mass after nuclear reaction and loss of mass gets
converted in to energy which is imparted as kinetic energy to the product
particles.
The Positive Q-value of Nuclear Reaction
 For Example, Q –value reaction
H 1+ Li7--- He4+ He4 + Q
1 3 2 2
(1.00814) + (7.01822) = (4.00387) + (4.00387) + Q
or Q = 0.01862 amu
Q = 0.01862x 931 = 17.3 Mev
 Hence Q is positive in Exothermic nuclear reaction and 17.3
Mev energy is released.
The Negative Q-value of Nuclear Reaction
As Q-Value of Nuclear reaction is
Q = {(ma + MX ) – (mb2 + MY )} c2 and Q = {KY + K b } – Ka

i. Q-Value of reaction is negative when (ma + MX ) < (mb

+ MY ) i.e masses of Reactant is less than that of
masses of Product
ii. Q-Value of reaction is Negative when {KY + K b } <
Ka i.e K.E of Products is less than K.E of Reactants
This type of nuclear reaction is know as endothermic or
endoergic reaction.
There is a net increased in the mass after nuclear reaction and the
increase of mass provided by supplying energy to incident particle
so that reaction proceeds in the forward direction.
The Negative Q-value of Nuclear Reaction
 For Example the reaction is
 2He4 + 7N14 ----------- 8O17 + 1H1 +Q
 In this reaction sum of rest masses of interacting particle
which is less than the sum of rest masses of product particles.
Its yield a negative mass difference and negative Q-Value.
 In such an endothermic type of reaction , a minimum amount
of energy equal to the negative Q-value of this reaction must
be given to the incident particle so that the reaction take
place. Such an energy is called as the threshold energy of
endoergic reactions.
 The Zero Q-value of Nuclear Reaction
As Q-Value of Nuclear reaction is
Q = {(ma + MX ) – (mb2 + MY )} c2 and Q ={KY + K b } – Ka
i. Q-Value of reaction is Zero when (ma + MX ) = (mb + MY ) i.e
the sum of rest masses of interacting particle is equal to sum of
masses of Product particle.
ii. Q-Value of reaction is Zero when {KY + K b } = Ka i.e K.E of
Products is equal to K.E of Reactant
iii. It results in producing an elastic collision in which there is no loss of
loss of energy but the direction of motion of particles is change. For
example Alpha Particles interacting with 79 Au192 nuclei are
elastically scattered in different direction without any loss of energy.