Calculating pressure / energy difference confusion

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the energy and pressure differences for a gas layer using MATLAB. The key equations involve determining electron density per area, average energy in keV, and pressure differences in hPa, culminating in the evaluation of the ratio ##-\frac{\Delta E}{\Delta p}##. The theoretical energy loss is derived from the equation $$-\frac{dE}{dp}=\frac{k}{E} \times 940 \frac{keV^{2}}{hPa} \times ln\left ( 5.848\times10^{-4} \frac{E}{I} \right )$$. Participants express confusion regarding the lab script and the plotting of energy versus pressure, particularly in creating a Bragg plot.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of MATLAB for data analysis and plotting
  • Familiarity with concepts of electron density and energy loss in gases
  • Knowledge of pressure measurements in hPa and their significance
  • Basic grasp of logarithmic functions and their application in physics equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn MATLAB data visualization techniques for plotting Bragg plots
  • Study the principles of energy loss in gases, specifically using the Bethe formula
  • Research the relationship between pressure and energy in gas layers
  • Explore advanced MATLAB functions for statistical analysis of experimental data
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics or engineering courses, researchers analyzing gas behavior under varying pressures, and anyone involved in experimental physics requiring data analysis and plotting skills.

Farang
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Homework Statement



The electron density per area, ##N## for a gas layer of thickness 10 cm can be determined
$$n = k \times p \times 2.47 \times 10^{19}$$
For each adjacent sets of pressure data using Matlab, calculate the average energy in keV, the pressure difference in hPa, the energy difference in keV and then evaluate ##-\frac{\Delta E}{\Delta p}## in keV/hPa. Plot this as a function of the average energy, along with the theoretical energy loss, that can be calculated using analysis based on equation
$$-\frac{dE}{dx}=\frac{4\pi n Z^{2}}{m_{e}v^{2}} \left ( \frac{e^{2}}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}} \right )^{2} ln\left ( \frac{2m_{e}v^{2}}{I} \right )$$
Using ##\mu = \frac{m_{e}}{m_{He}} = \frac{511 keV}{3.727 GeV} = 1.371 \times 10^{-4}## and ##Z = 2##.
$$-\frac{dE}{dx}=\frac{2\pi Z^{2}}{\mu E} \frac{N(p)}{p} \left ( \frac{e^{2}}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}^{2}} \right )^{2} ln\left ( \mu \frac{4E}{I} \right )$$
$$-\frac{dE}{dp}=\frac{k}{E} \times 2.41\times10^{-29} \frac{J^{2}}{hPa} \times ln\left ( 5.848\times10^{-4} \frac{E}{I} \right )$$
which can be written in an equivalent form
$$-\frac{dE}{dp}=\frac{k}{E} \times 940 \frac{keV^{2}}{hPa} \times ln\left ( 5.848\times10^{-4} \frac{E}{I} \right )$$
which is suitable for the creation of a theoretical curve that can be compared to the experimental data by plotting them on the same axes.

You need to present your data in the form of a Bragg plot, which shows both
the energy and differential energy loss as a function of pressure, as shown by the exemplar data in figure 3.2

Homework Equations


All above...

The Attempt at a Solution



Following the lab script has always been the most difficult part of the course for me for some reason. Often I can't figure out what is that I am supposed to do or even what I've just done. Perhaps someone here will be able to make sense of this...

So far I have 2 tables(one for Helium and one for air) with 4 rows each(Max # of impulses, Energy(keV), Average energy(keV) and Pressure(mbar)).

How / why / between what pressure difference does it want me to calculate?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Ok I think I'm getting there, painfully slowly... I need to plot alpha energy and energy loss as a function of pressure. What a way to spend a Saturday night...
 

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