Session I.2.

Part I Review of Fundamentals

Module 2 Basic Physics and Mathematics

Used in Radiation Protection

Session 2 Excitation and Ionisation

IAEA Post Graduate Educational Course

4/2003 Rev 2 Radiation Protection and Safe Use of Radiation Sources I.2.2 – slide 1 of 13
 Overview

 In this session we will discuss Electrons

 We will discuss the Binding Energy which

holds the electrons to the nucleus

 We will discuss Excitation and Ionisation

which are processes by which electrons are
removed from their stable location

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 2 of 13

 Electron Shells

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 3 of 13

 Electron Shells

Maximum No.
Shell n of Electrons
K 1 2
L 2 8

K M 3 18
L
M N 4 32
N
O
O 5 50

2n2 P 6 72

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 4 of 13

 Binding Energy

Shell Hydrogen Tungsten

K -13.5 -69,500
L -3.4 -11,280
M -1.5 -2,810
N -0.9 -588
O -0.54 -73
(Binding Energy in eV)
4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 5 of 13
 Binding Energy

110
Binding Energy (keV)

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Atomic Number (Z)

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 6 of 13
 Excitation

atom
electron excited state
orbitals
energy
energy

nucleus
ground state

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 7 of 13

 Excitation

higher energy level

excited
electron

energy

normal energy level

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 8 of 13

 Excitation

nucleus energy

electron
excited state

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 9 of 13

 Excitation

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 10 of 13

 Ionisation

Ionisation of an
outer shell
electron

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 11 of 13

 Ionisation

Ionisation of a
K-shell electron

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 12 of 13

 Where to Get More Information

 Cember, H., Introduction to Health Physics, 3rd

Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York (2000)

 Firestone, R.B., Baglin, C.M., Frank-Chu, S.Y., Eds.,

Table of Isotopes (8th Edition, 1999 update), Wiley,
New York (1999)

 International Atomic Energy Agency, The Safe Use

of Radiation Sources, Training Course Series No. 6,
IAEA, Vienna (1995)

4/2003 Rev 2 I.2.2 – slide 13 of 13