Q-value calculation - nuclear physics

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the calculation of Q-values in nuclear reactions, specifically using the reaction equations involving deuterons and protons. The Q-value for the reaction D + p → ³He + γ is definitively stated as 5.493 MeV, which represents the energy of the emitted gamma photon. The discrepancies in calculated Q-values arise from using incorrect mass values, such as the mass of a ³He atom instead of the mass of a ³He nucleus. The discussion references specific mass values from the National Nuclear Data Center and emphasizes the importance of accurate mass data in Q-value calculations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of nuclear reaction equations
  • Familiarity with mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²)
  • Knowledge of isotopes and their mass values
  • Basic principles of photon emission in nuclear reactions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mass values of isotopes using the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) database
  • Study the proton-proton chain and its significance in stellar nucleosynthesis
  • Learn about the calculation of Q-values in various nuclear reactions
  • Explore the concept of mass defect and binding energy in nuclear physics
USEFUL FOR

Nuclear physicists, students studying nuclear reactions, and anyone interested in the calculations of Q-values in nuclear processes.

Ene Dene
Messages
47
Reaction score
0
http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/masses/mass.mas03, and the missing data:
u=931.50MeV
p=1.00728u=938.28MeV
d=2.01355u=1875.63MeV
e=0.511MeV

A(a,b)B=a+A->b+B
Q=[(m(a)+m(A))-(m(b)+m(B)]MeV (1)

This can't be more simple, but in every example that I saw in my lectures different values occur. For example:
3He+3He->4He+2p (this is not 3 times He, but p+p+n), Q=12.859
Using the table of masses from a given link and (1) I get Q=13.83MeV.

The second thing I don't understand is when I have this situation:
d+p->3He+photon,
1875.63MeV+938.28MeV->2809.4MeV+photon. Is Q now equal to energy of photon?
In this case 1875.63 + 938.28 - 2809.4=4.51MeV+photon.
Btw, also in my lectures Q of this reaction is 5.493MeV.

I really can't understand these differences.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
This question is 14+ years old at the time of answering. But maybe this will help someone who comes across it.

The link given in Post #1 not longer exists, so I can't check the values and calculation for the first question.

Let me address the second question.

deuteron + proton → helium-3 + gamma photon
D + p → ³He + γ

For this reaction, Q= 5.493MeV. ‘Q’ is the gamma photon energy.

(For information, this is the second reaction in the p-p chain, e.g. see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton–proton_chain)

I suspect your calculated value of Q (4.51Mev) is wrong because you have used the mass of a ³He atom. You should have used the mass of a ³He nucleus. That would account for most of the discrepancy.

Minor edits.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
13K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
13K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
Replies
9
Views
6K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
992
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K