Lesson plan
Excitation function
Excitation function ( yield curve) is a term used in nuclear physics to describe a graphical plot of the yield of a radionuclide or reaction channel as a function of the bombarding projectile energy or the calculated excitation energy of the compound nucleus. The yield is the measured intensity of a particular transition. The excitation function typically resembles a Gaussian bell curve and is mathematically described by a Breit–Wigner function, owing to the resonant nature of the production of the compound nucleus. The energy value at the maximum yield on the excitation curve corresponds to the energy of the resonance. The energy interval between 25% and 75% of the maximum yield on the excitation curve are equivalent to the resonance width. A nuclear reaction should be described by a complete study of the exit channel (1n,2n,3n etc.) excitation functions in order to allow a determination of the optimum energy to be used to maximize the yield.
Article summary
Excitation function ( yield curve) is a term used in nuclear physics to describe a graphical plot of the yield of a radionuclide or reaction channel as a function of the bombarding projectile energy or the calculated excitation energy of the compound nucleus. The yield is the measured intensity of a particular transition. The excitation function typically resembles a Gaussian bell curve and is mathematically described by a Breit–Wigner function, owing to the resonant nature of the production of the compound nucleus. The energy value at the maximum yield on the excitation curve corresponds to the energy of the resonance. The energy interval between 25% and 75% of the maximum yield on the excitation curve are equivalent to the resonance width. A nuclear reaction should be described by a complete study of the exit channel (1n,2n,3n etc.) excitation functions in order to allow a determination of the optimum energy to be used to maximize the yield.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.