Sameuel Rock Salazar Physics 180 Problem Set 2

2018-05248 Page 1 of 2

The B/A plot looks like it peaks at a specific value of A. Using the curve approximated
by SEMF, find the value of A that achieves this and find the peak value. What is the element
that achieves this?

Solution. We have the SEMF equation:

Z2 (Z − A/2)2
B = a1 A − a2 A2/3 − a3 − a4 ± a5 A−1/2
A1/3 A
To find the binding energy per nucleon, we have to divide B with A,

1 (Z − A/2)2
" #
B Z2
= a1 A − a2 A2/3 − a3 1/3 − a4 ± a5 A−1/2
A A A A
Z2 (Z − A/2)2
= a1 − a2 A−1/3 − a3 − a4 ± a5 A−3/2
A4/3 A2
We also take the minimum of B with respect to Z

(Z − A/2)2
" #
dB d Z2
= a1 A − a2 A2/3 − a3 1/3 − a4 ± a5 A−1/2
dZ dZ A A
2a3 Z 2a4 (Z − A/2)
=− 1/3
− =0
A A
a4 A
Zmin =
2a3 A2/3 + 2a4

Substituting this Zmin to A,

B
to optimize the binding energy per nucleon
 2   2
a4 A a4 A

B

2a3 A2/3 +2a4 2a3 A2/3 +2a4
− A/2
= a1 − a2 A−1/3 − a3 − a4 ± a5 A−3/2
A opt A4/3 A2
  2
a4 A
a24 A2 2a3 A2/3 +2a4
− A/2
= a1 − a2 A−1/3 − a3 − a4 ± a5 A−3/2
(2a3 A2/3 + 2a4 )2 A4/3 A2

Graphing this function numerically, we find that its maximum is at about A = 60.
Sameuel Rock Salazar Physics 180 Problem Set 2
2018-05248 Page 2 of 2

We also have the Binding Energy per Nucleon B/A in MeV

• With odd-odd parity, B/A is: 8.788839688082197

• With even-even parity, B/A is: 8.739202692485884

• With even-odd parity, B/A is: 8.763469363962466

Thus, the odd-odd parity has the greatest Binding Energy per nucleon.

Numerical solutions can be found in:

https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1InyVitu hXCss9XRf DZCN 1cCN GOzxxglscrollT o =

U R3Rmv32Y I0K