Reaction dynamics and nuclear transformations

Analyze decay and reaction observables through conservation laws, barrier penetration, resonance theory, and experimentally constrained reaction models.

10 published lessons1 module340 min of guided study
  1. 01
    Reaction dynamics and nuclear transformationsadvanced · 10 lessons

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Reaction dynamics and nuclear transformations

Analyze decay and reaction observables through conservation laws, barrier penetration, resonance theory, and experimentally constrained reaction models.

  1. 01

    Reaction Q-values and threshold energies

    Track mass conventions and derive the difference between reaction energetics and a fixed-target beam threshold.

    34 min
  2. 02

    Two-body nuclear reaction kinematics

    Transform relative motion into laboratory observables without assigning a dynamical angular distribution.

    34 min
  3. 03

    Alpha decay and Gamow penetration

    Separate energy release, barrier tunneling, cluster formation, and the measured partial decay rate.

    34 min
  4. 04

    Beta-decay spectra and Fermi theory

    Derive the allowed spectral shape from lepton phase space and state the limits of selection rules and endpoint approximations.

    34 min
  5. 05

    Gamma-decay multipolarity and lifetimes

    Use spin and parity to identify photon multipoles while distinguishing radiative strength from a total level lifetime.

    34 min
  6. 06

    Compound nuclei and Breit–Wigner resonances

    Relate formation, partial decay widths, spin averaging, and inverse-channel reciprocity for an isolated resonance.

    34 min
  7. 07

    Direct reactions and optical potentials

    Interpret complex elastic-channel potentials and partial-wave absorption without confusing flux loss with particle destruction.

    34 min
  8. 08

    Neutron cross sections and resonance absorption

    Connect microscopic areas to beam attenuation, spectrum-weighted rates, and the conditional scope of a 1/v law.

    34 min
  9. 09

    Nuclear fission barriers and fragment distributions

    Separate deformation stability, tunneling, energy partition, and the normalization of measured fragment yields.

    34 min
  10. 10

    Fusion barriers and astrophysical S-factors

    Separate kinematic Q-values, Coulomb penetration, intrinsic nuclear strength, and thermal reaction averaging.

    34 min
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