A proton with energy 44 MeV is in a nuclear potential well 50 MeV deep. The proton “sees” a Coulomb barrier 10^-15 m wide at the nuclear surface.

(a) Use Equation 6-76 to compute the probability that the proton will tunnel through the barrier on a single approach.
(b) Assuming that the radius R of the nucleus is 10^-15 m and the proton is nonrelativistic, compute the rate at which protons would be emitted (i.e., decay) from a sample of these nuclei. 

(c) By what factor does your answer to part (b) change if the width of the barrier is 2 x 10^-15 m?

Transcribed Image Text:

T 1 - -/-) ₁-² V V. -2aa 6-76