Are the Energy Units in the Decay Diagram Correct for Pt-125?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The forum discussion addresses discrepancies in the energy units presented in the decay diagram for Platinum-125 (Pt-125). It clarifies that 22% of the decay leads to a transition energy of 30.9 keV, not 0.0309 keV as incorrectly stated. The correct excited nuclear energy levels for Pt-125 are 0.1298 MeV (129.8 keV) and 0.0989 MeV (98.9 keV), with the transition energy being the difference of 30.9 keV. The discussion emphasizes the importance of accurate unit representation and understanding the context of nuclear emissions in electron capture processes.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of nuclear physics concepts, particularly electron capture.
  • Familiarity with energy unit conversions (MeV to keV).
  • Knowledge of excited nuclear energy levels and their significance.
  • Basic understanding of characteristic X-ray emissions.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the electron capture process in nuclear physics.
  • Learn about the characteristics and applications of X-ray emissions from Pt-125.
  • Study the significance of energy level transitions in nuclear decay.
  • Explore the implications of incorrect unit usage in scientific calculations.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for nuclear physicists, medical physicists, and anyone involved in radiotherapy or nuclear decay analysis, particularly those working with isotopes like Pt-125.

Graham87
Messages
72
Reaction score
16
Homework Statement
See picture
Relevant Equations
See picture
1.png


In the solution below it says 22% goes to 0.0309keV. From the diagram above I interpret 22% goes to 0.1298keV with EC(L)/EC(K)=3.0 and not 4.4. Why is that wrong ?

Thanks a lot!

2.png
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Graham87 said:
View attachment 322938
In the solution below it says 22% goes to 0.0309keV. From the diagram above I interpret 22% goes to 0.1298keV with EC(L)/EC(K)=3.0 and not 4.4. Why is that wrong ?
View attachment 322939
Not sure how much I can help but there are some mistakes worth (IMO) mentioning.

Two excited nuclear energy levels (of Pt-125) are given as 0.1298MeV (=129.8keV) and 0.0989MeV (=98.9keV). Note that the difference between these is 0.0309MeV (= 30.9keV).

But there are then various references (including in the model-answer) to ‘0.1298keV’, ‘0.0989keV’ and ‘0.0309keV’. It appears that units are very messed up.

Also, the model-answer refers to an ‘energy level of 0.0309keV’. Even after correcting the unit, this value is not an energy level; it is the transition energy between the two excited nuclear states. What the model answer is telling you is that for each electron-capture, there are two possible nuclear emissions: a ##\gamma## photon of energy 30.9keV or one of 98.9keV. Note that only one of these is in the energy-range of interest.

I’m not familiar with some of the symbols used (despite several years of being a medical physicist in radiotherapy a long time ago). But I would suggest that you check the energies of characteristic X-rays for Pt-125 to see which ones are in the energy range of interest.

Edit: several minor changes.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Graham87
Steve4Physics said:
Not sure how much I can help but there are some mistakes worth (IMO) mentioning.

Two excited nuclear energy levels (of Pt-125) are given as 0.1298MeV (=129.8keV) and 0.0989MeV (=98.9keV). Note that the difference between these is 0.0309MeV (= 30.9keV).

But there are then various references (including in the model-answer) to ‘0.1298keV’, ‘0.0989keV’ and ‘0.0309keV’. It appears that units are very messed up.

Also, the model-answer refers to an ‘energy level of 0.0309keV’. Even after correcting the unit, this value is not an energy level; it is the transition energy between the two excited nuclear states. (What the model answer is telling you is that for each electron-capture, there are two possible nuclear emissions: a ##\gamma## photon of energy 30.9keV or one of 98.9keV. Note that only one of these is in the energy-range of interest.

I’m not familiar with some of the symbols used (despite several years of being a medical physicist in radiotherapy a long time). But I would suggest that you check the energies of characteristic X-rays for Pt-125 to see which ones are in the energy range of interest.

Edit: minor changes only.
Thanks! Yes, you are right. Aparently the the solution is wrong. They wrote the wrong numbers above and used the right numbers during the calculations lol.
Thanks a lot for the explanation!
3.png
 

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
8K
Replies
2
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
720
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K