View source for Forest NucPhys I Nuclear Reactions

=Nuclear  Reactions=


==Types of Reactions==

:<math>a + X \rightarrow Y + b</math>

; elastic scattering
: X & Y and a & b are the same particles, momentum and energy are conserved, typically all are in their ground state

;In-elastic scattering
:If Y or b are in an excited state, energy is not conserved it is used to excite one of the exiting particles.


;Note: Elastic collisions are usually referred to as collisions and not nuclear reactions.


===Direct Reactions ===
;knockout reaction
: a & b are the same but there are 3 total particles in the final state.
: n + X \rightarrow Y + 3n =  X(n,3n)Y

[[Image:KnockOut_Reaction_Forest_NucPhys_I.png | 200 px]]

;Transfer Reaction
: a nuclear from projectile a is transfered to target X

[[Image:Transfer_Reaction_Forest_NucPhys_I.png|200px]]

;Nuclear PhotoEffect
: projectile a ejects a nucleon from target X
:e - + Mo-100 \rightarrow Mo-99 + n + e- = X(e,e'n)Y

[[Image:NuclearPhotoEffect_Forest_NucPhys_I.png|200px]]

=== Compound reactions===

;Compound reaction
:projectiel a is captured by target X forming an intermediate state which then decays, possibly through multiple excited nuclear states/species,  to Y and b

This is typically a low energy reaction in which particle Y doesn't leave the target material but the intermediate state may be surmised at through the detection of particle b.

[[Forest_NucPhys_I]]