Examples Problems
Chapter 3
Radiation Protection Book
Problem #1
55Cs137
decays by beta- emission
(T=30.174y, = -86.5607 MeV) to
137 ( = -87.7367 MeV) with the
Ba
56
emission of the following radiations:
- :
1.176 Mev; max 7%
0.514 Mev; max 93%
0.662 MeV; 85%
Problem # 1 Questions
(a) draw the decay scheme of 55Cs137
Calculate the conversion coefficient
Calculate the K-shell conversionelectron energy if the K-shell binding
energy is 37 keV
What is Auger electron emission and
with what process does it compete?
Problem #1: Solution
137
55
0
0
Cs 137
Ba
+
+
56
0v
1
Q = p D
Q = 86.5607 MeV ( 87.7367 MeV )
Q = 1.176 MeV
Problem #1: Solution
This agrees with the larger of the 2 observed
maximum beta-particle energies
This indicates that 7% of the parent nuclei
decay directly to the ground state of the
daughter
The remaining 93% decay to a daughter
excited state, having an energy of:
1.176 0.514 = 0.662 MeV
The observed gamma-ray energy
Problem #1: Solution
The gamma-ray is observed in only 85% of
the transformations
So, internal conversion must occur in
93% - 85% = 8% of the transformations
Decay scheme drawing
137
Cs
55
1.176 MeV
Beta: 0.512 (93%)
Beta = 1.176 (7%)
0.662 MeV
Gamma (85%)
0 MeV
137
Ba
56
X-rays from daughter will also occur as a result of
rearrangements of orbital electrons following internal
conversion
They are not shown in decay scheme diagrams, which show
only nuclear transformation
Internal conversion
Occurs when nuclear de-excitation causes
ejection of an electron from an atomic shell
as an alternative to gamma emission
It is favored over gamma emission in
elements of low Z and low energy
transitions
K and L-shell electrons are most likely to be
involved due to their close proximity to the
nucleus
Internal conversion
The conversion coefficient :
Ne
=
N
0.08
= 0.094
=
0.85
K-shell electron energy
In contrast to a beta particle, a conversion electron has a
discrete energy equal to the difference between the
gamma-ray energy and the electrons binding energy:
Ee = E * E B
0.662 0.037 = 0.625MeV
Conversion electrons from other shells have higher
energies since their binding energy is lower, but occur less
frequently
Note that since the conversion electron is emitted from
the daughter atom, the binding energy of the daughter,
not parent, determines the energy of the conversion
electron
Auger electron
An auger electron is emitted instead of a
characteristic X-ray when the energy released is
transformed to another atomic electron, removing it
from the atom
Auger electron emission is the atomic analog to
internal conversion
Since both electron capture and internal conversion
leave a vacancy in an orbital electron shell, both
can give rise to Auger electron emission
The number of X-rays emitted per vacancy is called
the fluorescence yield and is equal to 1 for high Z
elements
Problem #2
26Fe59
emits beta particles via four
modes of decay with the maximum
energies and frequencies shown in
Table. It also emits gamma photons as
indicated
Radiations emitted by
5
26Fe
Beta Particles
Photons
Max. Energy
[MeV]
Frequency
[%]
Energy
[MeV]
Frequency
[%]
1.573
0.3
1.290
43.4
0.475
53.5
1.098
56.3
0.283
45.4
0.192
2.8
0.140
0.8
0.143
0.8
Solution
To develop a decay scheme from a list of
radiations emitted, fit one piece of
information at a time
The frequencies for beta decay add to
100%
The average number of gamma-rays per
transformation exceeds one
Multiple photons will thus be emitted in
some modes of decay
Beta decay to the ground
The simplest assumption is that the
most energetic mode of beta decay
(Q=1.573) leaves the daughter 27Co59
nucleus in its ground state
1.573
59
Fe
26
1.573
0.3%
59
Co
27
0.0
The 4 modes of beta
decay
The other modes of beta decay leave the
59 in nucleus excited states with
Co
27
energies:
1.573 0.475 = 1.098MeV
1.573 0.283 = 1.290 MeV
1.573 0.140 = 1.433MeV
The 4 modes of beta
decay
1.573
59
26Fe
0.140
0.8%
0.382
45.4%
0.475
53.5%
1.433
1.290
1.573
0.3%
1.098
59
Co
27
0.0
Gamma-decay
If the daughter nucleus is left in one
of the excited states after emission of
the beta particle, then it decays to the
ground state by emitting one or more
gamma photons
The energies of the
photons
1.433 1.290 = 0.143MeV
1.433 1.098 = 0.335MeV
1.433 0.0 = 1.433MeV
1.290 1.098 = 0.192 MeV
1.290 0.0 = 1.290 MeV
1.098 0.0 = 1.098MeV
Complete Decay-Scheme
59
26Fe
0.140
0.8%
0.382
45.4%
0.475
53.5%
1.573
0.3%
1.573
1.433
0.143
0.8%
1.290
0.192
2.8%
1.098
1.290
43.4%
59
Co
27
1.098
56.3%
0.0
