Introduction to Nuclear Science

by Bryan; Jeff C.

• ISBN13: 9781420061642
• ISBN10: 142006164X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-07-15
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

There are many excellent nuclear chemistry textbooks available for teaching science or engineering seniors or graduate students, but very few for those lacking a more extensive science and math background. And many of them are slipping out of date. Clearly, a more appropriate text is necessary. Introduction to Nuclear Science provides a much-needed textbook for those seeking a more accessible introduction to the topic.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Author	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
Radiation	p. 1
Atomic Structure	p. 2
Nuclear Transformations	p. 4
Nuclear Stability	p. 6
Ionizing Radiation	p. 8
A Biological Threat?	p. 10
The Chart of the Nuclides	p. 14
Questions	p. 14
The Mathematics of Radioactive Decay	p. 17
Atomic Masses and Average Atomic Masses	p. 17
The Nature of Decay	p. 17
Specific Activity	p. 22
Dating	p. 23
Branched Decay	p. 24
Equilibria	p. 26
Secular equilibrium	p. 27
Transient equilibrium	p. 29
No equilibrium	p. 31
Statistics	p. 32
Questions	p. 38
Energy and the Nucleus	p. 41
Binding Energy	p. 41
Total Energy of Decay	p. 44
Decay Diagrams	p. 45
Questions	p. 49
Radioactive Decay: The Gory Details	p. 51
Alpha Decay	p. 51
Beta Decay	p. 55
Positron Decay	p. 59
Electron Capture	p. 61
Multiple Decay Modes	p. 65
The Valley of Beta Stability	p. 66
Isomeric Transitions	p. 71
Other Decay Modes	p. 74
Spontaneous fission	p. 74
Cluster decay	p. 74
Double beta decay	p. 74
Delayed particle emissions	p. 74
Questions	p. 75
Interactions of Ionizing Radiation with Matter	p. 77
Ionizing Radiation	p. 77
Charged Particles	p. 77
Photons	p. 88
Compton scattering	p. 88
The photoelectric effect	p. 90
Pair production	p. 90
Attenuation of X- and [gamma]-Radiation	p. 93
Questions	p. 96
Detection of Ionizing Radiation	p. 99
Gas-Filled Detectors	p. 99
Ionization chambers	p. 99
Proportional counters	p. 100
Geiger-Muller tubes	p. 101
Scintillation Detectors	p. 103
Photomultiplier tubes	p. 103
Inorganic scintillators	p. 103
Organic scintillators	p. 104
Other Detectors	p. 105
Semiconductor detectors	p. 105
Thermoluminescent dosimeters	p. 106
Gamma Spectroscopy	p. 107
Questions	p. 115
Nuclear Reactions	p. 119
Energetics	p. 120
Cross Section	p. 127
Yield	p. 129
Accelerators	p. 133
Cosmogenic Nuclides	p. 136
Questions	p. 138
Fission and Fusion	p. 141
Spontaneous Fission	p. 141
Neutron-Induced Fission	p. 143
Fusion	p. 151
Stellar Nucleosynthesis	p. 153
Synthesis of Unknown Elements	p. 154
Questions	p. 156
Nuclear Reactors and Weapons	p. 159
Fission Reactors	p. 159
Reactor Safety	p. 165
Nuclear Waste	p. 167
Cost of Nuclear Power	p. 170
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons	p. 171
Fusion Reactors	p. 172
Nuclear Weapons	p. 173
Fission weapons	p. 173
Thermonuclear devices	p. 176
Neutron bomb	p. 178
Bunker buster	p. 178
Dirty Bombs	p. 178
Questions	p. 179
Nuclear Medicine	p. 181
Radionuclide Production	p. 181
Radiopharmaceuticals	p. 185
Radiotracers	p. 190
Questions	p. 190
Radiation Therapy and Food Irradiation	p. 193
Radiation Therapy	p. 193
Food Irradiation	p. 196
Questions	p. 198
Radiation Protection	p. 199
Terms	p. 199
Regulations and Recommendations	p. 202
Risk	p. 205
Questions	p. 211
X-ray Production	p. 213
Conventional X-ray Beams	p. 213
High-Energy X-ray Beams	p. 218
Questions	p. 227
Bibliography	p. 229
Useful Constants, Conversion Factors, SI Prefixes, and Formulas	p. 231
Periodic Table of the Elements	p. 235
Table of Chi-Squared	p. 237
Index	p. 239
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