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Nuclear Structure: Properties and Models. Problems

1. The nucleus 13 N can be described within the extreme independent particle model as a system with 7 protons
and 6 neutrons that are interacting through the single-particle potential:
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V (r) = −V0 + mω 2 r2 − α~l · ~s − β~l 2 (1)
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with V0 = 40 MeV, h̄ω = 15 MeV, α = 2 MeV/h̄2 and β = 0.1 MeV/h̄2 .
Calculate:
(a) The binding energy of this isotope (13 N).
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(b) The difference between the binding energies of N and C nuclei. Compare the result with the prediction
given by the semi-empirical mass formula.
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(c) The spin and parity of the ground state in N.
(d) The dipole magnetic moment, the electric quadrupole moment and the charge root mean square radius of
the ground state in 13 N.
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2. The excitation energies for the yrast band of the nucleus U are found to be (in keV):

E(0+ ) = 0.0; E(2+ ) = 44.7 E(4+ ) = 148 E(6+ ) = 306 E(8+ ) = 522 E(10+ ) = 785 E(12+ ) = 1100 (2)

(a) Interpret the structure of this band.

(b) Find the experimental value of the moment of inertia and compare it with the value given by a rigid sphere
of radius R = 1.2A1/3 fm.
3. Some nuclear excited states of 117 In and 117 Sn are shown in Figure 3. Here, the multipolarities of the observed
γ-decays are also indicated. The excited state at 314 keV of 117 In has a half-life of 1.93 hours and decays
through β and γ decay with the branching ratios written in the figure. The ground state of 117 In is a 9/2+ state
and β-decays to the 730 keV state of 117 Sn with a half-life of 0.7 hours. The maximum energy of the emitted
electron is 740 keV.
117 117
(a) What is the mass difference between In and Sn nuclei?
(b) Find the possible spin and parity assignments of the states plotted in the figure, knowing that the ground
state spin and parity of 117 Sn is 1/2+ .
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(c) Calculate (within the Weisskopf approximation) the γ-decay probability of the state at 314 keV of In
isotope and compare this value with the experimental one.
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(d) Which are the predictions of the extreme shell model for spin and parities of the ground states of In and
117
Sn isotopes? Discuss the results.

314 keV
M4 (50%) 50%
9/2+
117In

100%

730 keV

E2

315 keV
M4
152 keV
M1
1/2+
117Sn

4. A heavy nucleus (Z = 80, A = 200) decays (Qβ = 8 MeV) to the ground state (J = 0+ , log f t1/2 =2.8) and to
an excited state (J = 2+ , E(2+ ) = 25 keV, log f t1/2 =3.1) through β − decay. Additionally, the excited state of
the daughter nucleus can decay through γ-decay and α-decay, being the decay probability constant in the latter
case λα = 300 s−1 . Calculate:
(a) The angular momentum of the mother nucleus and its half-life.
(b) If the initial number of parent nuclei is N0 , what is the number of daughter nuclei and how many α-particles
have been emitted after 1 ms?
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5. An even-even nucleus behaves as an octupole vibrator. Compute the possible values of angular momentum and
parity of the ground and the two lowest excited states.
6. Each of the following nuclei emits a photon in a γ transition between an excited state and the ground state.
Given the energy of the photon, find the energy of the excited state and comment on the relationship between
the nuclear recoil energy and the experimental uncertainty in the photon energy:
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a) 320.08419 ± 0.00042 keV in V
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b) 1457.786 ± 0.005 keV in Cd
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c) 1274.545 ± 0.017 keV in Ne
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d) 3451.152 ± 0.047 keV in Fe
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e) 884.54174 ± 0.00074 keV in Ir
7. (a) For a light nucleus (A = 10), compute the ratio of the emission probabilities for quadrupole and dipole
radiation according to the Weisskopf estimates. Consider all possible choices for the parities of the initial and
final states. (b) Repeat for a heavy nucleus (A = 200).
8. In a nucleus described by the rotational model, the second excited state is always a 4+ state. This state decays
by E2 radiation to the 2+ state. Justify this observation by calculating, using the Weisskopf estimates, the ratio
between the E2 decay probability and (a) the octupole (L = 3) and hexadecapole (L = 4) decays to the 2+
state and (b) the hexadecapole state to the ground state.
(Note: These are collective rotational states, for which the Weisskopf estimates should not be taken too seri-
ously).
9. For the following γ transitions, give all permitted multipoles and indicate which multipole might be the most
intense in the emitted radiation:
9− 7− 1− 7− 11− 3+
(a) 2 → 2 ; (b) 2 → 2 ; (c) 2 → 2
− + + + + +
(d) 1 → 2 ; (e) 4 → 2 ; (f) 3 → 3
10. A certain decay process leads to final states in an even−Z, even−N nucleus and gives only three γ rays of
energies 100, 200 y 300 keV, which are found to be respectively E1, E2 and E3. Construct two different possible
level schemes for this nucleus (consistent with known systematics of nuclear structure) and label the states with
their most likely spin-parity assignments.