Why Does Iron Have the Highest Average Binding Energy?

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SUMMARY

The average binding energy of iron is the highest among all elements due to the balance of nuclear forces and Coulomb repulsion as explained by the Weizsäcker semi-empirical mass formula. Smaller nuclei experience a higher surface-to-volume ratio, leading to less binding energy, while larger nuclei face increased Coulomb repulsion. This results in iron being the most stable nucleus, marking a peak in binding energy. The phenomenon is well-documented and can be explored further through the provided resource.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of nuclear physics concepts
  • Familiarity with the Weizsäcker semi-empirical mass formula
  • Knowledge of binding energy and nuclear stability
  • Basic grasp of Coulomb's law in the context of nuclear forces
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Weizsäcker semi-empirical mass formula in detail
  • Explore the concept of binding energy in various elements
  • Study the effects of Coulomb repulsion in larger nuclei
  • Investigate the implications of nuclear stability in astrophysics
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Students and professionals in nuclear physics, researchers studying atomic structure, and educators looking to explain concepts of nuclear stability and binding energy.

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Why is the average binding energy of iron is biggest?
Are there some theories about it?
 
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Weizsacker semi-empirical mass formula.

http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/semiempirical.htm
 
Summary: smaller nuclei have relatively more nucleons on the surface (these are not bound by neighbours on all sides), and larger nuclei have a stronger Coulomb repulsion. There has to be a maximum somewhere, and this happens to be at iron.
 
Thank you.
 
Thread 'Unexpected irregular reflection signal from a high-finesse cavity'

Thread 'Unexpected irregular reflection signal from a high-finesse cavity'

I am observing an irregular, aperiodic noise pattern in the reflection signal of a high-finesse optical cavity (finesse ≈ 20,000). The cavity is normally operated using a standard Pound–Drever–Hall (PDH) locking configuration, where an EOM provides phase modulation. The signals shown in the attached figures were recorded with the modulation turned off. Under these conditions, when scanning the laser frequency across a cavity resonance, I expected to observe a simple reflection dip. Instead...
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