Principle
An alpha-spectrometer, consisting of a photodetector, a
preamplifier, a pulse height analyser and a recording device for
registration of the spectra is calibrated by means of an open
alpha-emitter of known alpha energy (241Am). The energy
spectrum of a radium source which is in equilibrium with its decay
products, is recorded and evaluated. The alpha-energies found in
this way are allocated to the corresponding nuclides of the radium
decay series.
Tasks
- The Alpha-spectrum of the 226Ra is recorded
with multichannel analyzer.
- The calibration spectrum of the open 241Am alpha-emitter
is recorded at the same settings.
- The alpha-energies corresponding to the individual peaks of the
alphaspectrum of the radium are calculated and compared to the
values in the literature.
What you can learn about
- Decay series
- Radioactive equilibrium
- Isotopic properties
- Decay energy
- Particle energy
- Potential well model of the atomic nucleus
- Tunnel effect
- Geiger-Nuttal law
- Semiconductor
- Barrier layer