Past exam of the MPhil in nuclear energy course of the University of Cambridge / 2021 / Module NE1 / 1 / b

The stipulated decay branch gives $K_{\alpha }\simeq 4.51\mathrm{MeV}$. Using the supplied atomic masses, the mass defect isso the total Q value is $Q\simeq 0.00580(931.494)=5.4027\mathrm{MeV}$. The photon carries away the stated $0.802\mathrm{MeV}$, leavingApplying the recoil partition,The daughter recoil takes approximately $0.0877\mathrm{MeV}$. Atomic electron counts balance in the neutral-atom mass difference; small electronic binding corrections and photon recoil are neglected consistently with the problem. These values follow the branch specified in the examination, rather than an assumed average over every physical decay branch.