Nuclear Reaction Cross Section Definition

Mb 10 3 b ub 10 6 b or nb 10 9 b.

Nuclear radiation to human. The concept of a nuclear cross section can be quantified physically in terms of characteristic area where a larger area means a larger probability of interaction. For example in nuclear physics a gas of low energy neutrons collides with nuclei in a reactor or other nuclear device with a cross section that is energy dependent and hence also with well defined mean free path between collisions. The standard unit for measuring a nuclear cross section is the barn which is equal to 10 28 m2 or 10 24 cm2.

Meaning of nuclear cross section. Cross sections can be computed for atomic collisions but also are used in the subatomic realm. In nuclear physics the nuclear cross section of a nucleus is commonly used to characterize the probability that a nuclear reaction will occur.

Cross section of a nuclear reaction q. The nuclear cross section of a nucleus is used to characterize the probability that a nuclear reaction will occur. Formal definition of cross section consider a beam of particles incident on a thin sheet of material.

Nuclear cross sections are used in determining the nuclear reaction rate and are governed by the reaction rate equation for a particular set of particles usually viewed as a beam and target thought experiment where one particle or nucleus is the target typically at rest and the other is treated as a beam projectile with a given energy. In conjunction with the neutron flux it enables the calculation of the reaction rate for example to derive the thermal power of a nuclear power plantthe standard unit for measuring the cross section is the barn which is. Cross section in nuclear or subatomic particle physics probability that a given atomic nucleus or subatomic particle will exhibit a specific reaction for example absorption scattering or fission in relation to a particular species of incident particlecross section is expressed in terms of area and its numerical value is chosen so that if the bombarding particle hits a circular area.

The concept of a nuclear cross section can be quantified physically in terms of characteristic area where a larger area. In nuclear physics the nuclear cross section of a nucleus is commonly used to characterize the probability that a nuclear reaction will occur. The standard unit for measuring a nuclear cross section is the barn which is equal to 10 28 m2 or 10 24 cm2.

The cross section is typically denoted s and measured in units of area m 2. In nuclear and particle physics the concept of a neutron cross section is used to express the likelihood of interaction between an incident neutron and a target nucleus.