Modules
	Alpha Decay

	Beta Minus Decay

	Beta Plus Decay

	Electron Capture

	Neutron Emission

	Proton Emission

Functions
template<typename T >
T	EGXPhys::QValueInMeV (const T massProjectileInu, const T massTargetInu, const T massProduct1Inu, const T massProduct2Inu)
	Calculates the Q-value, \(Q\), of a nuclear reaction in megaelectron volts. The Q-value allows you to determine if a nuclear reaction is endothermic or exothermic. More...

template<typename T >
T	EGXPhys::QValueInJ (const T massProjectileInu, const T massTargetInu, const T massProduct1Inu, const T massProduct2Inu)
	Calculates the Q-value, \(Q\), of a nuclear reaction in joules. The Q-value allows you to determine if a nuclear reaction is endothermic or exothermic. More...

Detailed Description

Calculates the Q-value, \(Q\), of a nuclear reaction.

Function Documentation

◆ QValueInJ()

template<typename T >

T EGXPhys::QValueInJ	(	const T	massProjectileInu,
		const T	massTargetInu,
		const T	massProduct1Inu,
		const T	massProduct2Inu
	)

Calculates the Q-value, \(Q\), of a nuclear reaction in joules. The Q-value allows you to determine if a nuclear reaction is endothermic or exothermic.

The Q-value, \(Q\), is the energy released during a nuclear reaction. The Q-value can be positive, negative or zero. For \(Q < 0\) the reaction is endothermic/endoergic resulting in the kinetic energy of the reaction being converted into mass or binding energy. For \(Q > 0\) the reaction is exothermic/exoergic resulting in the mass or binding energy being released as kinetic energy.

To calculate the Q-value it is the initial mass \(m_{initial}\) energy minus the final mass \(m_{final}\) energy:

\[Q = \left ( m_{initial}-m_{final}\right ) c^2\]

For a projectile \(x\) colliding with a target \(X\) and thereby producing \(y\) and \(Y\) the equation becomes:

\[Q = \left ( m(x) + m (X) - m(y) - m(Y) \right ) c^2\]

See http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/qcalc/ and http://www.nuclear-power.net/nuclear-power/nuclear-reactions/q-value-energetics-nuclear-reactions/

Equation taken from "Introductory Nuclear Physics" (Krane, 1987), p. 62 & p. 381

Parameters

massProjectileInu	\(m(x)\ (u)\) Mass of projectile. The mass of the projectile in unified atomic mass units.
massTargetInu	\(m(X)\ (u)\) Mass of target. The mass of the target in unified atomic mass units.
massProduct1Inu	\(m(y)\ (u)\) Mass of first product. The mass of the first product in unified atomic mass units.
massProduct2Inu	\(m(Y)\ (u)\) Mass of second product. The mass of the second product in unified atomic mass units.

Returns: \(Q\ (J)\) Q-value. The energy in joules produced by a nuclear reaction.

See also: MassDefect() to calculate the mass defect of an atom.; NuclearBindingEnergy() to calculate binding energy, \(BE\), of an atom.; QValueAlphaDecayInJ() to calculate Q-Value for an alpha decay reaction in joules.; QValueBetaMinusDecayInJ() to calculate Q-Value for a beta minus decay reaction in joules.; QValueBetaPlusDecayInJ() to calculate Q-Value for a beta plus decay reaction decay in joules.; QValueElectronCaptureInJ() to calculate Q-Value for a electron capture reaction in joules.; QValueNeutronEmissionInJ() to calculate Q-Value for an neutron emission reaction in joules.; QValueProtonEmissionInJ() to calculate Q-Value for a proton emission reaction in joules.

◆ QValueInMeV()