RDCH 702 Fall 2014: Lecture 1 Introduction and Chart of the Nuclides

The class outcomes are discussed. The main goal of the class, to provide students with the fundamental information for the exploitation of radiochemistry in research, is presented. The course grading scale and expectations are given. The Chart of the Nuclides is reviewed in detail with the front matter assigned as reading. The Table of the isotopes is introduced, with data examples presenting, include gamma decay yields. Atomic properties, nuclear nomenclature, X-rays, and types of decays are introduced. Respond to the PDF Quiz 1 when complete with the blog comment.  

RDCH 702 Fall 2014: Lecture 0 Using online lectures

A brief example of the online lecture format is presented.  The lectures are available as power point, AVI, or MOV.  Please respond to the test PDF Quiz 0.

Lecture 7: Radiation interaction with matter

This lecture covers interaction of radiation with matter, with emphasis is placed on dosimetry and hot atom chemistry. Interaction of radiation with matter is provided, with an overview of different particle interactions. Commonalities and differences for neutrons, charged particles, electron, and photon interactions are provided.  Dosimetry is introduced and explored. Units of dosimetry are described and dosimetry measurements are discussed.  Quality factors based on particle mass and charge are introduced. Introductory dose calculations are supplied. Radiation protection regulations and the definition of terms (ALI, DAC) are given, including levels for use in the UNLV Radiochemistry laboratories. A review of hot atom chemistry closes the lecture.

Quiz 3: Orbitals and energetics, nuclear models, and decay kinetics

Quiz 2 for RDCH 702 can be found at:  http://radchem.nevada.edu/classes/rdch702/quizzes.html.  Please post any questions on this quiz to the blog.  Be prepared to discuss the quiz in class on Wednesday 30 October.

Lecture 6 Part 2: Decay Kinetics

The second part of the decay kinetics lectures focuses on utilizing the described equations.  The lecture begins with a description of parent-daughter decay, with examples from the natural actinide decay series.   Relationships between the parent and daughter isotopes is based on half life differences.  A generalized equation to calculate relative amounts of parent and daughter at any time is provided.  Equations related to expanded decay chains with more than 2 members is provided, emphasizing the Bateman equation.  The use of a program that calculated the decay chain member is given.  Dating with radionuclides is given as a final example of equation utilization.

Lecture 6 Part 1 Decay kinetics

The first part of the lecture covers fundamental decay kinetic equations, manipulation of those equations, and error in counts.  The fundamental equations relating activity with the decay constant and number of atoms is presented.  The equation is expanded into binomial distribution and used to relate counting error with total counts.  Units of activity are defined.  The concept of lifetime is introduced and used to explain Mossbauer spectroscopy.  Half life and activity calculation examples are reviewed.  The first part of the lecture ends with a discussion on mixtures of radionuclides. 

Lecture 5: Nuclear Models

This lecture provides supplemental information on the shell model and nuclear force.  The main aspects of nuclear models are covered in RDCH 701. The strong force is introduced and the similarities of nucleons is discussed, with isospin as a new parameter. The use of mirror nuclei to examine the strong force is presented, emphasizing the normalization of Coulomb energy for mirror nuclei. An overview of nuclear potentials is provided and used to discuss the shell model. States of the shell model and their relationship to magic numbers are discussed. Use of the shell model is determine spin and parity is presented. The relationship between spin and parity with nuclear deformation is introduced with Nilsson diagrams. The correlation between spin, deformation, nuclear shape (spherical, oblate, prolate) is provided.

The homework question can be e-mailed or returned in class on 14 October.