Lecture 17 A

Angular distributions
 d
d


Forward peaked in the case of direct reactions.

In the case of CNR after equilibrium is achieved , the emission of b is more

isotropic.
 Conservation laws in Nuclear Reactions
Let us take the example of the following reaction

5 B10 + 2He4 7 N14 1 H1 +6C13 +Q (17A.1)

CN is formed
(a) Charge .

Total charge is conserved in every type of nuclear reaction . In B 10 ( α,p)C13

Initial charge :- 5 protons + 2 protons =7 protons.

Final charge :- 1 proton + 6 protons = 7 protons.

In the compound nucleus there are also 7 protons.

Hence ΣZ= constant.

(b) Mass number : In the above reaction, we have the following:

Nos of nucleons before the reaction took place is 10+4 =14

Nos of nucleons in the compound nucleus is 14

Nos of nucleons in the products is 1+13 =14

Hence we can write Σ mas number = constant.

From the condition (a) and (b) we can infer that the total nos of neutrons is also constant.
Σneutrons = constant
(c) Statistics:- For the above reactions the total nos of fermions at the initial stage is the same as that

of the final stage. It does not violate the statistical laws in the sense that Femi Dirac statistics( odd A)

or Bose Einstein Statistics ( even A) is complied with both sides since the total nos of fermions are

even.

(d) Angular momentum We know that the total angular momentum is a constant.

In the above equation during the initial stage the angular momentum of B 10 I is calculated

in the following manner.

P3/2 P3/2

s½ s½
protons neutrons

Nordheim s rule :- l1 +l2 +j1 +j2 =1+1+3/2 +3/2= 2+3 =5 (odd) This rule is applicable for odd odd uclei

Thus the value of I is given by jp + jn = 3/2+3/2= 3.

Let the angular momentum of the compound nucleus 7N14 be Ic
P1/2

P3/2

S1/2

Neutrons j n =1/2

Similarly jp =1/2
Thus Ic =1/2 +1/2 =1

Applying Nordheim s rule Ii = 1+1+1/2 +1/2 =2+1=3

Now the reaction products 6C13 7 jn =1/2 For proton jp =1/2

that 1/2 +1/2=1 or 0

Now the total angular momentum of the reaction products I f are either 2,3,4
2+1=3
Various permutations and combinations or 3+0 =3
4-1=3
Thus the total angular momentum is conserved.

(e) Parity In any type of nuclear reaction total parity is conserved.

The total parity of B10 , He4, ad C13 is odd. In the Be10 (α,p)C13

the input parity , for s wave capture of the α particle is therefore even. Then the compound nucleus
14
N should be even . In the exit channel C13 has odd parity , but there is a requirement

that the total parity should be even , so there is a restriction on lf and permits only lf =3 if li =0.

(f) Linear Momentum In all isolated mechanical systems , linear momentum is conserved. If the

target particle is at rest , the linear momentum brought into the reaction by the projectile is

distributed among the reaction products. In the CM frame total linear momentum is zero.
The Kinetic Q energy in any reaction = reduction in the total mass of all the constituents of the

reaction.
In equation (17A.1) the Q value of the reaction is

MB10 + MHe4 = MH1 +MC13 +Q