Geiger–Nuttall law

In nuclear physics, the Geiger- Nuttall rule links the decay constant of a radioactive isotope with the energy of the emitted alpha particles. Short-lived isotopes emit high-energy alpha particles. The energy of a particle measured at this time due to its range in air.

The law was formulated in 1911 by Hans Geiger and John Mitchell Nuttall and is in its modern form:

And linking the decay constant λ, the atomic number Z and the kinetic energy E of alpha particles and mother nucleus, where a1 and a2 are constants.

This first empirically determined in 1911 context is explained by the tunnel effect and was derived theoretically in 1928 by George Gamow. This derivation was performed using the WKB method, and was instrumental in the recognition of quantum mechanics. With the help of classical physics such a statement is in fact not possible.

In this case, the probability that the tunnel through the Coulomb barrier alpha particles, and thus leaves the nucleus, strongly with its kinetic energy.

Credentials

• Nuclear physics