ENU 4930

Homework #2 Solution
1. A 1 MeV iron atom (particle 1) collides with an initially stationary iron atom (particle 2). (12 points)
a. Prior to the collision, what is the center-of-mass velocity?
b. Prior to the collision, what is the speed of particle 2 relative to the center-of-mass?
c. Following the collision, what is the new center-of-mass velocity?
d. Assuming coulomb potentials adequately describe the interaction, how close do the two
particles get?
s m
M
E v
M M
v M v M
v
cm
/ 10 28 . 9
2 2
5
1
1 1
2 1
2 2 1 1
= = =
+
+
=
1
1
2
2
0
M
E
v v
cm
= =
No external force
1
1
2M
E
v
cm
=
( )
2 2 2
1
1
2
1
1
2 1 1
E
M
E
M M E E
R
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
( )
m
E
e Z Z
e Z Z
V
E
E
R
12
1
2
2 1
2
2 1 1
10 9 . 1
2
2

= =
= = =

2. A 2 MeV proton travels through lead. (12 points)

a. Assuming elastic collisions, calculate the maximum energy that can be transferred from the
proton to the lead.
b. What energy would a Pb ion need to have the same maximum energy transfer in a Pb-Pb
collision as the proton-Pb collision in part a?
c. If the displacement energy of a Pb atom is 28eV, then how many Pb atoms are displaced for the
average energy transfer proton-lead collision using Kinchin-Pease Model?
a. For protons
M
1
=1; M
2
=207, A=0.019138, E
1
=2 MeV, therefore T
max
=38 keV
b. For lead
M
1
=207; M
2
=207, A=1, T
max
=38keV, therefore E
1
=38keV
c. If the displacement energy of a Pb atom is 28eV, then how many Pb atoms are displaced for
the average energy transfer proton-lead collision? For an isotropic constant cross section
collision
The average energy transfer is 19 keV so 341 atoms are displaced.
A more accurate answer would examine the closest point of approach and then pick a relevant
potential and calculate the average energy transferred using that potential.
( )
2
2 1
2 1
4
M M
M M
+
= A
i
E T A =
2
1
3. Calculate the average energy transfer from a 100 keV Ni atom colliding with another Ni atom assuming
a) Hard sphere potential, b) Inverse square potential? (13 points)
The transfer energy differential cross section for the inverse square potential is:
( )
2
3
2
1
2
1
2
2 1
2
3 . 19
,
T E
e Z aZ
T E
i
i s

A
=
Answer:
( )
1
4
2
2 1
2 1
=
+
= A
M M
M M

( )
( )
}
}
A
A
=
i
d
i
d
E
E
i s
E
E
i s
dT T E
dT T E T
T
,
,

a) ( )
1
2
0
1
,
E
T E
s
A
=

( )
( )
( ) | |
( ) KeV E E E T
E E
E E
E E
dT
TdT
dT
E
dT
E
T
dT T E
dT T E T
T
i d i
d i
d i
d i
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
i s
E
E
i s
i
d
i
d
i
d
i
d
i
d
i
d
50
2
1
2
1
2
1
,
,
2 2
1
2
0
1
2
0
= ~ + A =
>>
A
A
= =
A
A
= =
}
}
}
}
}
}
A
A
A
A
A
A

(b)
( )
( )
KeV E E T
E E
E E
E E
T
T
dT
T
dT T
dT
T E
e Z aZ
dT
T E
e Z aZ
T
dT T E
dT T E T
T
d i
d i
i d
d i
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
T
E
E i
E
E i
E
E
i s
E
E
i s
i
d
i
d
i
d
i
d
i
d
i
d
i
d
i
d
2 ) (
) (
) (
2
2
1
1
3 . 19
3 . 19
,
,
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
2
3
2
1
2
1
2
2 1
2
2
3
2
1
2
1
2
2 1
2
2
3
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
A ~
>>
A
A
=

= =
A
A
= =

A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
}
}
}
}
}
}

4. The (n,) reaction in

56
Fe releases a prompt gamma ray of E=7MeV. (13 points)
(a) What is the recoil energy of the
57
Fe product nucleus?
(b) Use the Lindhard model to determine the number of displaced atoms per
57
Fe recoil. Compare
this result with that obtained by the Kinchin-Pease formula. Assume E
d
=25eV.
Answer:
(a) Assume a thermal neutron or neutron is at rest initially, and momentum conservation requires that
at the reaction:
E
y
c
= p
y
= p
57
E
57
=
(p
57
)
2
2H
=
(E
y
)
2
2Hc
2
=
(7 10
6
)
2
2 56.935 1.66 10
-27
(3 10
8
)
2
6.24 10
18
= 462cI
(b). Kinchin-pease model:
:
KP
=
E
2E
d
HoJ _1,
E
2E
d
] = 9.24 0.24 = 9
Lindhard model:
efficiency damage
E
E
E T v
d
=
+ + +
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
) 4 . 0 4 . 3 ( 13 . 0 1
1
) (
2
) ( ) (
4 3 6 1

Where
) / 2 (
2 2
a e Z
E
= and
3 1
88 . 0
Z
a
a
bohr
=
Using the cgs unit system:
o =
0.880.5310
-8
26
1
3
,
= 1.57 10
-9
cm
erg eV E
12
10 6 . 1 462 462

= =
c = 4.8 10
-10
stotcoulombs
Then e =
4621.610
-12
1.5710
-9
226
2
(4.810
-10
)
2
= 0.003726
And 850846 . 0
) 4 . 0 4 . 3 ( 13 . 0 1
1
) (
4 3 6 1
=
+ + +
=


8 . 7 24 . 9 850846 . 0
2
) ( ) ( = =
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
d
E
E
E T v