Radioactivity

Physical Structure of Matter Rutherford experiment 5.2.21-01/11/15

What you can learn about

Scattering Angle of scattering Impact parameter Central force Coulomb field Coulomb forces Rutherford atomic model Identity of atomic number and charge on the nucleus

Principle:
The relationship between the angle of scattering and the rate of scattering of -particles by gold foil is examined with a semiconductor detector. This detector has a detection probability of 1 for -particles and virtually no zero effect, so that the number of pulses agrees exactly with the number of -particles striking the detector.

Set-up of experiment P2522115 with MCA

In order to obtain maximum possible counting rates, a measurement geometry is used which dates back

What you need:

Experiment P2522115 with MCA Experiment P2522111 with Cobra3 Experiment P2522101 with xyt writer
Multi Channel Analyzer MCA Software Alpha- and Photodetector * Annular diaphragm w. gold foil Annular diaphragm w. alumin. foil U-magnet, large Americium-241 source, 370 kBq Container f. nuclear phys. expts. Pre-amplifier f. alpha detector Impulse height analyser Digital counter, 4 decades Hand held mano-/ barometer Pressure sensor 1 Diaphragm pump, two-stage Rubber tubing, vacuum, i.d. 6 mm Tubing connect.,Y-shape Oscilloscope, 30 MHz, 2 channels Pinchcock, width 20 mm Screened cable, BNC, l = 750 mm Adapter, BNC-socket/4 mm plug pair Connecting cord, l = 750 mm, red Connecting cord, l= 750 mm, blue RS232 data cable Cobra3 Basic Unit Cobra3 Radioactivity software Power supply, 12 VPC, Windows 95 or higher * Optional: Alpha detector Cable connector BNC, 50 13726.99 14524.61 09099.00 09103.02 09103.03 06320.00 09090.11 09103.00 09100.10 13725.93 13600.93 07136.00 07136.01 08163.93 39286.00 47518.03 11459.95 43631.20 07542.11 07542.27 07362.01 07362.04 14602.00 12150.00 14506.61 12151.99 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 4 1 2 2

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 4 1 2 2 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 3 1 1 3

Counting rate for gold as a function of

1
r (2)2 sin4(2)

to Chadwick. It is also possible in this case to shift the foil and source in an axial direction (thus deviating from Chadwicks original apparatus), so that the angle of scattering can be varied over a wide range. In addition to the annular diaphragm with gold foil, a second diaphragm with aluminium foil is provided in order to study the influence of the scattering material on the scattering rate.

Tasks:
1. The particle rates are measured at different angles of scattering between about 20 and 90 . The measurements are compared with the particle rates calculated by means of the Rutherford theory for the measurement geometry used. 2. The particle rates are measured in the case of scattering by aluminium and gold with identical angles of scattering in each case. The ratio of the two particle rates is compared with the particle rate calculated from Rutherfords scattering equation.

09100.00 07542.09

1 1

1 1

1 1

Complete Equipment Set, Manual on CD-ROM included Rutherford experiment P25221 01/11/15
PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co. KG D - 37070 Gttingen

Laboratory Experiments Physics 219

Rutherford experiment

LEP 5.2.21 -01

09103.00 09090.11 09100.00 09100.10 13725.93 13600.93 11459.95 07136.00 07136.01 08163.93 39286.00 47518.03 07542.27 07542.11 07542.09 433631.20 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 4 1 1

Related topics Scattering, angle of scattering, impact parameter, central force, coulomb field, coulomb forces, Rutherford atomic model, identity of atomic number and charge on the nucleus. Principle The relationship between the angle of scattering and the rate of scattering of -particles by gold foil is examined with a semiconductor detector. This detector has a detection probability of 1 for -particles and virtually no zero effect, so that the number of pulses agrees exactly with the number of -particles striking the detector. In order to obtain maximum possible counting rates, a measurement geometry is used which dates back to Chadwick (Fig. 2). It is also possible in this case to shift the foil and source in an axial direction (thus deviating from Chadwicks original apparatus), so that the angle of scattering can be varied over a wide range. In addition to the annular diaphragm with gold foil, a second diaphragm with aluminium foil is provided in order to study the influence of the scattering material on the scattering rate. Equipment Annular diaphragm w. gold foil Annular diaphragm w. alumin. foil U-magnet, large

Container f. nuclear phys. expts. Americium-241 source, 370 kBq Alpha detector Pre-amplifier f. alpha detector Impulse height analyser Digital counter, 4 decades Oscilloscope, 30 MHz, 2 channels Hand held mano-/ barometer Pressure sensor 1 Diaphragm pump, two-stage Rubber tubing, vacuum, i.d. 6 mm Hose connector Adapter, BNC-socket/4 mm plug pair Screened cable, BNC, l = 750 mm Cable connector BNC, 50 Pinchcock, width 20 mm

Tasks 1. The particle rates are measured at different angles of scattering between about 20 and 90 . The measurements are compared with the particle rates calculated by means of the Rutherford theory for the measurement geometry used. 2. The particle rates are measured in the case of scattering by aluminium and gold with identical angles of scattering in each case. The ratio of the two particle rates is compared with the particle rate calculated from Rutherfords scattering equation.

09103.02 09103.03 06320.00

1 1 1

Fig. 1: Experimental set-up Rutherford experiment.

PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen

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Rutherford experiment

Fig. 2: Chadwicks experimental set-up of the Rutherford experiment.

Theory and Evaluation Rutherfords theory on the scattering of on the following assumptions:

-particles is based

(a) The mass of the atom is concentrated in a nucleus which can be regarded as a single point relative to the dimensions of the atom as a whole. (b) This nucleus carries a positive charge and is therefore surrounded by a coulomb field which decreases in proportion to 1/ r2. (c) -particles are repelled in this coulomb field as a result of their likewise positive charge and subsequently follow hyperbolic paths. The particle rate n(u) of particles scattered through the angle u in a solid angle d is governed under the above assumptions by Rutherfords scattering equation for a-particles:
2

Set-up and procedure Fig. 1. shows the complete experimental layout. The -detector, the annular diaphragm with gold foil and the 241Am source screwed into the movable source holder are placed in the container. The pre-amplifier is set for -particles, Bias switch is set to internal and . The output is connected with the in of the pulse height analyzer. The counter output is connected via a BNC-cable and an adapter BNC-socket/4 mm plug to the potential free input of the counter. The foils are moved with the help of the magnet. Further information please refer to the operating instructions. The pulse height analyzer remains initially switched off (no voltage applied to the -detector).

1 d 2 Z e2 b . (1) a n(u) = n N dF u 4 4pe0 2 Ea sin4 2 in which n N dF Z E e

0

= = = = = = =

particle rate in the foil atomic concentration in the foil foil thickness nuclear charge of the scattering atoms energy of the -particles elementary charge = 1.6021 10-19 As electric constant = 8.8524 10-12 As/Vm

The solid angle d covered during particle counting is determined by the distance r2 between foil and detector and by the surface area of the detector AD (Fig. 2): d = AD r2 2 .

Preparation Evacuate the container to about 0.5 hPa. Close the vacuum hose with a hose clamp. Switch off the pump (the vacuum is sufficient when the pressure has fallen clearly below 2 hPa). Switch on the pulse height analyzer. Select the Integral window on the pulse height analyzer. Release the Auto/Man key (for manual operation). Set to a voltage of 0.5 V with the base adjusting knob (0.50 scale divisions) in order to suppress the noise.

Incorporating these quantities in equation (1), we obtain the scattering equation in the following form: n 1u2 r dF Z2 u r2 sin4 a b 2 2 (2)

Measurements The counting rate is determined for different distances l between source and detector. The distance l may in this case be varied between 22 cm and 4 cm, corresponding to a scattering angle range of about 20 to 90 . The measuring period selected should be sufficient to achieve a pulse count of 100. The pulse height analyzer is then switched off, the container ventilated and opened the gold foil annular diaphragm replaced by the aluminium foil diaphragm. The procedure described above under Preparation is then followed and the particle rate determined at a scattering angle of about 45 . (Select a scattering angle for which a measurement is already available in the measurement series with the gold foil diaphragm).

For safety reasons the activity of the -emitter used is restricted to 370 kBq. When using an arrangement as shown in Fig. 2 such low counting rates are obtained at this source strength from equation (2), that the measurements necessary to verification of the scattering equation cannot be performed during the time available for the experiment. An arrangement as shown in Fig. 3 is therefore used, corresponding to a slightly modified version of a proposal put forward by Chadwick in 1920. The detector consists of a surface barrier-layer counter which records all the -particles striking its barrier layer and shows no zero effect. The foil forming an annular diaphragm is, like the source, arranged to be movable. The scattering angle u is varied by shifting these two components. The foil is always arranged centrally between source and detector, so that the scattering angle is given by following expression: sin u 2 2a a
2 l 12 2 2

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PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen

Rutherford experiment

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Fig. 3: Sketch of the experimental set-up of the Rutherford experiment used in this experiment.

Typical measurements for gold and aluminium at a scattering angle of 43.6 (l = 10 cm) are given in the table below: Measuring time (min) 15 15 Pulse count 175.5 22

Foil Gold Aluminium

n/min-1 11.7 1.47

dF Z 2 is calculated for two scattering foils from the following table: Foil Gold Aluminium A typical example of the measurement of scattering in gold at different angles is summarized in the table below. l/cm u Measurement time (min) 10 10 15 15 20 n(u)/min-1 (measured) 16.6 13.6 11.7 11.0 10.2 1 u sin4 1 2 2 7.8 4.2 1.8 1.2 0.5 dF/mm 1.5 8.0 Z 79 13 (dF Z 2) /mm 9.36 1.35

r 12 2 2

The measured counting rates have been plotted against dF Z 2 in Fig. 5. It is evident that the measurement points lie, within the limits of statistical error, exactly on a line passing through the origin of the coordinates.

22 16 10 6 4

20.6 28.1 43.6 67.4 90.0

The measured counting rates have been plotted as a function of 1 r 2 u a b sin4 a b 2 2 in Fig. 4. Within the limits of statistical error we receive an linear dependence in accordance with the Rutherford scattering equation.

Fig. 5: Counting rate for gold and aluminium as a function of (dF Z 2).

Measurement errors Counting errors may occur if serious sources of interference are present during the measurement (spark gaps etc.); the possibility of such errors is excluded in the example given here. If no such sources of interference are present and the zero effect of the detector has been checked (it should not substantially exceed 0.1/min, if the detector is operating correctly), it may be assumed that the counted pulses correspond exactly to the number of -particles scattered in the barrier layer of the detector. Fig. 4: Counting rate for gold as a function of 1 . r u 1 2 2 2 sin4 1 2 2

PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen

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Rutherford experiment

Comments (a) The particle rate does not fall in proportion to 1/r2, on particular at short distances from the source, since we are not concerned here with a point-type emitter. (The dependence of the particle rate on distance can be easily measured for the used source). (b) -particles are not strictly monoenergetic. (c) The mean energy of -particles cannot be regarded as a constant at 4 MeV for all anlges of scattering. The energy of -particles decreases with an increase in the angle u, since the energy loss in the source covering rises with an increase in oblique radiation (see Operating Instructions for the 241Am source 09090.11). (d) Screening of the deeper-lying barrier layer of the -detector occurs at values of u. (e) The probability of double scattering increases with a decrease in the angles of scattering; at low values of u the measured particle rat will therefore be greater than the rate calculated on the assumption that each particle has undergone a single collision with an atomic nucleus.

(f) The energy of the -particles falls during their path through the foil as a result of collisons with electrons. (g) The particles striking the detector are not only those which have undergone scattering through an angle u; the angular range u u is in fact covered. The most effective way of refining the calculation is to take into account the true energy distribution of the -particles and their angular dependence and also the energy loss of the -particles along their path through the scattering foil. (See also in this connection Ramage, I. C., I. McKeown and K. W. D. Ledingham. Am. I. Phys. 1975 43 51).

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