Interaction of Radiation with Matter

This lecture covers the interaction of radiation with matter, including reaction rate, cross section, interaction of X and gamma radiation, and interaction of neutrons. It explains the probability of nuclear reactions, typical cross sections, and various interaction processes of X and gamma rays. The lecture also delves into the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and pair production, highlighting their significance in radiation detection. The discussion extends to neutron interactions, nuclear reactions with incident neutrons, and the energy balance of nuclear reactions. The lecture concludes by emphasizing the different types of reactions, such as elastic scattering, inelastic scattering, neutron capture, and fission reactions.

About this result

This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.

Related lectures (62)

Related concepts (52)

PHYS-452: Radiation detection

The course presents the detection of ionizing radiation in the keV and MeV energy ranges. Physical processes of radiation/matter interaction are introduced. All steps of detection are covered, as well

Neutron capture

Neutron capture is a nuclear reaction in which an atomic nucleus and one or more neutrons collide and merge to form a heavier nucleus. Since neutrons have no electric charge, they can enter a nucleus more easily than positively charged protons, which are repelled electrostatically. Neutron capture plays a significant role in the cosmic nucleosynthesis of heavy elements. In stars it can proceed in two ways: as a rapid process (r-process) or a slow process (s-process). Nuclei of masses greater than 56 cannot be formed by thermonuclear reactions (i.

Nuclear fission

Nuclear fission is a reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei. The fission process often produces gamma photons, and releases a very large amount of energy even by the energetic standards of radioactive decay. Nuclear fission was discovered on 19 December 1938 in Berlin by German chemists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann. Physicists Lise Meitner and her nephew Otto Robert Frisch explained it theoretically in January 1939. Frisch named the process "fission" by analogy with biological fission of living cells.

Neutron flux

The neutron flux, φ, is a scalar quantity used in nuclear physics and nuclear reactor physics. It is the total distance travelled by all free neutrons per unit time and volume. Equivalently, it can be defined as the number of neutrons travelling through a small sphere of radius in a time interval, divided by (the cross section of the sphere) and by the time interval. The usual unit is cm−2s−1 (neutrons per centimeter squared per second).

Neutron moderator

In nuclear engineering, a neutron moderator is a medium that reduces the speed of fast neutrons, ideally without capturing any, leaving them as thermal neutrons with only minimal (thermal) kinetic energy. These thermal neutrons are immensely more susceptible than fast neutrons to propagate a nuclear chain reaction of uranium-235 or other fissile isotope by colliding with their atomic nucleus. Water (sometimes called "light water" in this context) is the most commonly used moderator (roughly 75% of the world's reactors).

Electron scattering

Electron scattering occurs when electrons are displaced from their original trajectory. This is due to the electrostatic forces within matter interaction or, if an external magnetic field is present, the electron may be deflected by the Lorentz force. This scattering typically happens with solids such as metals, semiconductors and insulators; and is a limiting factor in integrated circuits and transistors.

Interaction of Radiation with Matter PHYS-452: Radiation detection

Covers the interaction of radiation with matter, including direct and indirectly ionizing radiation and nuclear reactions.

Interactions of Neutrons with Matter PHYS-443: Physics of nuclear reactors

Explores the interaction of neutrons with matter through cross sections, scattering, absorption, and energy dependencies.

Interaction of Radiation with Matter: Cross Sections and Processes PHYS-452: Radiation detection

Explores nuclear cross sections, photon interactions, neutron reactions, and fission processes in radiation detection.

Partons and Hadrons: Strong Force and Deep Inelastic Scattering

Explores partons, hadrons, strong force, deep inelastic scattering, elastic and inelastic scattering, and Bjorken scaling.

Interactions of Neutrons with Matter PHYS-443: Physics of nuclear reactors

Explores the interaction of neutrons with matter, covering cross sections, reaction rates, scattering, absorption, energy dependence, and the Doppler effect.