NucPhys I HomeworkProblems

Chapter 2

1.) In your own words, describe what the "Standard Model" of physics is using 2 to 5 paragraphs. Your paragraphs should include the concepts of the 4 fundamental forces of physics, QED, and QCD at a minimum. Any sentences in which a string of 5 or more words match a sentence that is found on the internet will be evidence of cheating.

2.) Solve the Schrodinger equation for the following potential:

$V(x) = \infty \;\; x\lt 0$

$V(x) =\left \{ {-V_0 \;\;\;\; 0\lt x \lt a \atop 0 \;\;\;\; x\gt a} \right .$

V_0 > 0 and E>0. Assume particles are incident from $x = -\infty$, don't try to normalize but do express the wave function in terms of one coefficient.

3.) Given the following barrier potential

$V(x) = \infty \;\; x\lt 0$

$V(x) =\left \{ {V_o \;\;\;\; 0\lt x \lt a \atop 0 \;\;\;\; x\gt a} \right .$

show that the transmission coefficient is

$T = \frac{1}{1+ \frac{V_o^2 \sinh^2(k_2a)}{4E(V_o-E)}}$

when $E \lt V_o$

Assume particles are incident from $x = -\infty$ and $k_2^2 = 2m(V_o-E)/\hbar^2$.

4.) Several nuclei decay by the emmission of an alpha particle. An alpha particle (He-4) is a tighlty bound nuclear containing 2 protons and 2 neutrons in which the energy needed to remove one neutron is 20.5 MeV. One model for this decay process views the alpha particle as being bound to the nucleus via a spherical potential well.

$V_{bound} =\left \{ {-V_o \;\;\;\; r \lt r_o \atop \frac{A}{r} \;\;\;\; r\gt r_o} \right .$

Once outside the nucleus, the alpha particle is repelled via Coulombs law

$V_{outside} \approx \frac{2(Z-2)e^2}{r} \equiv \frac{A}{r}$

The original nucleus had a charge $Ze$ and the alpha particle has a charge $2e$.

Use the WKB approximation to calcualte the transmissivity (T : transmission coefficient) in terms of the alpha particles velocity $(v=\sqrt{2E/m})$ and the dimensionless ratio $\sqrt{r_o/r}\equiv cos W$.

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