Liquid Drop Model – Volume Term

Consider analogy with liquid drop:

- Liquids often considered as non-compressible
- Density constant, independent of radius
Then: radius R ~ n1/3 where n is number of
molecules/nucleons in drop
The liquid drop model is named from the fact that water sticks to itself, but repels
itself if pushed too close together (incompressible)

We can consider each new nucleon as having the ability to add one new unit of bond
energy to the volume of nucleons. We know the volume increases linearly with A. For
larger volume nuclei, there should be proportionally more binding energy.

New bond

BE  c1 A  ...
 Liquid Drop Model – Surface Term
The liquid drop model is named from the fact that water sticks to itself, but repels
itself if pushed too close together (incompressible)

The surface nucleons interact with fewer nucleons because they are separated from the
deeper, buried nucleons.
4 1/ 3 3
V   ( A Ro )
3

This one can be

pulled off easer
than this one. 1/ 3 3
SA  4 ( A Ro )

2/3
BE  c2 A
 Liquid Drop Model – Coulomb Term
The liquid drop model is named from the fact that water sticks to itself, but repels
itself if pushed too close together (incompressible)

The protons are pushing against each other. The Coulomb force is much lower than the
strong force, but it still exists to weaken the binding.
2
q
Some protons are very close and U ( R)  k
some are 2R apart. On average,
they are A1/3Ro apart.
R
2
1/ 3 q
U ( A Ro )  k 1/ 3
A Ro

Each proton feels Z - 1 protons Z ( Z  1) 3

pushing on it. Adding this up for BE  c 1/ 3
all Z protons.
A
Liquid Drop Model – Coulomb Term

1 2

4 5
 Liquid Drop Model – Asymmetry Term

Pauli Exclusion makes N = Z the lowest energy. N

EF = Z allows filling of states in such at way that Pauli
Exclusion can be avoided.

N = Z (symmetric)
 Liquid Drop Model – Asymmetry Term

dU
Switch two neutrons to protons

N = Z (symmetric) N ≠ Z (asymmetric)

dU
Fermi Energies equilibrate to
align for two sets of Fermions in
contact

Adjust to equilibrate Ef
Liquid Drop Model – Asymmetry Term

dU BE  4 jU  j 2U

Start with N = Z. Take away two from N. Add two
to Z

N Z 2j
dBE α j dU
j = number of nucleons being
exchanged Click to add text
BE  ( N  Z ) 2 U

4j dU
 Liquid Drop Model – Asymmetry Term

EF  XU
dU
When N = Z, we see that the energy levels each have 4 nucleons in them.

EF
N = Z (symmetric)
U ~ A/ 4

2
BE  ( N  Z ) U

( N Z )2
BE  C 4 A
 Liquid Drop Model
2/3 Z ( Z 1) ( N Z )2
BE  C1 A  C2 A  C3 A1/ 3 C 4 A

C1  15.8
C2  17.8
C3  0.71
Click to add text
C4  23.7
2) Basic facts about nuclei: The liquid drop model
1/ 3
R  r0 A r0  1.2  1.4 fm

The first three terms in the liquid drop

model (Volume, surface, and Coulomb)
already explain the shape and
magnitude of the Binding energy curve
for nuclei.
 Typical exam questions:
238
1) Calculate the binding energy of uranium 92 U
A = 238 Binding energy terms (in MeV):
Z = 92 Volume: avA = 15.56 x 238 = 3703.28
N = 238 - 92 = 146 Surface: asA2/3 = 17.23 x (238)2/3 = 661.71
Coulomb: acZ2A-1/3 = 0.697 x (92)2 x (238)-1/3 = 951.95
Asymmetry: aa(A-2Z)2A-1 = 23.285 x (238 -184)2 x 238-1 = 285.29
Pairing: apA-1/2 = 12.0 x (238)-1/2 = 0.78

B = +Volume - Surface - Coulomb - Asymmetry + Pairing (N, Z even)

= 3703.28 - 661.71 - 951.95 - 285.29 + 0.78
= 1805.10 MeV Click to add text
Click to add text
 correct to 0.19%

2) What percentage is the binding energy of the total nuclear mass?

Masses of unbound nucleons: p = 938.27 MeV/c2, n = 939.57 MeV/c2
Protons: 92 x 938.27 = 86 320.84 MeV/c2
Neutrons: 146 x 939.57 = 137 177.22 MeV/c2
Total: = 223 498.06 MeV/c2
Mass of bound nucleus:
= Mass of unbound nucleons - Binding energy = 223 498.06 - 1805.10 = 221 692.96 MeV/c2
 BE is < 1% of total mass energy of nucleus 11