Atomic And Nuclear Physics

8

Radioactive Decay Theory

THIS CHAPTER COVERS…

• The basic concepts of various theories of radioactive decay.
• The Fermi theory of beta decay. The beta-decay probabilities, matrix element and coulomb interaction factors.
• Allowed and forbidden transitions based on the theory.
• The disintegration constant derived from the theory.
• The deviations in Fermi-Curie plots.
• The potential barrier theory of alpha decay given by Eeorge Gamow.
• A brief introduction to semi-classical model and multi-pole radiation given for gamma decay.

8.1 INTRODUCTION

After the discovery of neutron in 1932 it became clear that the then known instances of β-decay were processes in which one neutron in the nucleus transforms into a proton with the following reaction: