1.

1)Introduction to alpha particle radiation

 Called alpha ray.
 Consists of two protons and two neutrons.
 Identical to helium-4 nucleus.
 Produced in process of alpha decay.
 Have a net spring zero.
 Highly ionized form of particle radiation.

1.2) Alpha decay

 Types of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emit an alpha

particle.
 Radioactive decay is the process by which unstable atomic nucleus losses
energy by emitting radiated such as alpha particle.
 Transforms “decays” into deferent atomic nucleus.
 Atomic mass number decrease by four and atomic number decreases by
two.
 For example Ur^238 decays to form thiorium-234.

fig1.1 alpha decay of

Uranium

1.3) properties of alpha particles.

 Are heavy slow with other forms of nuclear radiation.
 The particle travel at 5% to 7% of the speed of light.
 Highly ionized because of double positive charge.
 Large mass compare to beta particle.
 Is multiple ionization with very small distance because of that much
more biological damage will happen in marine life or any other
place.
 Because of highly ionized unable to penetrate very fare through
mater.

1.4) Application of alpha particle.

 Artificial pace maker.

 Some smoke detector contain small amount of alpha emitore.
 Ionize aire with small gas.
 Alpha decay can provide safe power source of
radioisotopethemoelectric generatore( an electrical genaratore
tha uses aray of thermocouples).
 Used for space problem.

1.5) working principle

  Alpha rays were defined by Rutherford as those having

the lowest penetration of ordinary objects.
 Allowed alpha particles to penetrate a very thin glass wall
of an evacuated tube, thus capturing a large number of
the hypothesized helium ions inside the tube.
 Caused an spark inside the tube, which provided a shower
of electrons that were taken up by the ions to form neutral
atoms of a gas. Subsequent study of the spectra of the
resulting gas showed that it was helium and that the alpha
particles were indeed the hypothesized helium ions.
 Alpha radiation consists of helium-4nucleus and is readily
stopped by a sheet of paper. Beta radiation, consisting
 of electrons, is halted by an aluminum plate. Gamma
radiation is eventually absorbed as it penetrates a dense
material. Lead is good at absorbing gamma radiation, due
to its density.

fig 1.2showing the penetration

of different radiation.

1.6)How to measure alpha particle?

 From left to right the peaks are due to 209Po, 210Po, 239Pu

and 241Am. The fact that isotopes such
as 239Pu and 241Am have more than one alpha line indicates
that the nucleus has the ability to be in different
discrete energy levels.
 Calibration: MCA does not work on energy, it works on
voltage. To relate the energy to voltage one must calibrate
the detection system. Here different alpha emitting sources
of known energy were placed under the detector and the full
energy peak is recorded.
 Measurement of thickness of thin foils: Energies of alpha
particles from radioactive sources are measured before and
 after passing through the thin films. By measuring difference
and using SRIM we can measure the thickness of thin foils.
 Energetic of alpha decay: The alpha particle, or 4He
nucleus, is an especially strongly bound particle. This
combined with the fact that the binding energy per nucleon
has a maximum value near A»56 and systematically
decreases for heavier nuclei, creates the situation that
nuclei with A>150 have positive Qα-values for the emission
of alpha particles.
 For example, one of the heaviest naturally occurring
isotopes, 238U (with a mass excess, Δ, of +47.3070 MeV)
decays by alpha emission to 234Th (Δ = +40.612 MeV) giving
a Q-value:
 Qα = 47.3070 - (40.612 + 2.4249) = 4.270 MeV

1.7) conclusion

 An alpha particle is made up of two protons and two

neutrons, all held To describe the production
of alpha particles, we have to define
radioactive decay.
 An alpha particle is made up of two protons and two
neutrons, all held to describe the production of alpha
particles, we have to define radioactive decay.
 it doesn't have any electrons around it, and it's traveling
very fast. Alpha particles are a type of ionizing radiation.
 The atom will eventually spontaneously change or
"decay", to become more stable. 
 Alpha radiation is not hazardous if the source is external to
the body.