"A nuclear reaction is a process in which two nuclei, or a nucleus and an external subatomic particle, collide to produce one or more new nuclides."
Processes in which a nucleus undergoes a change in its number of protons or neutrons.
Nuclear Structure: This topic covers the fundamental structure of atomic nuclei, including protons, neutrons, and their interactions.
Nuclear Stability: This topic covers the factors that affect the stability of atomic nuclei and the meaning of nuclear stability.
Radioactivity: This topic covers the types of radioactive decay (alpha, beta, and gamma decay) and their properties.
Nuclear Fission: This topic covers the process of nuclear fission, its history, and its applications.
Nuclear Fusion: This topic covers the process of nuclear fusion and its potential as a future energy source.
Nuclear Reactors: This topic covers the different types of nuclear reactors, their components, and their operation.
Nuclear Fuel Cycle: This topic covers the cycle of nuclear fuel from mining to disposal, including enrichment and reprocessing.
Radiation Protection: This topic covers the measures taken to protect workers and the public from radiation exposure.
Nuclear Regulatory Agencies: This topic covers the role of regulatory agencies in ensuring the safe operation of nuclear facilities.
Applications of Nuclear Technology: This topic covers the many applications of nuclear technology, including medicine, agriculture, and power generation.
Fusion reactions: When two atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.
Fission reactions: When a heavy nucleus is split into two or more lighter nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.
Nuclear decay: When an unstable atomic nucleus emits radiation in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays, to achieve a more stable configuration.
Neutron capture: When a nucleus absorbs a neutron, resulting in the formation of a heavier and more unstable nucleus.
Neutron-induced fission: When a neutron collides with a heavy atomic nucleus, resulting in the fission of the nucleus and the release of energy.
Proton-induced fission: When a proton collides with a heavy atomic nucleus, resulting in the fission of the nucleus and the release of energy.
Spallation: When a high-energy proton collides with a nucleus, resulting in the release of several particles, including neutrons, protons, and other fragments.
Radiative capture: When a nucleus captures a photon, resulting in the formation of a heavier nucleus.
Isomeric transition: When a nucleus in an excited energy state undergoes a transition to its ground state by releasing a gamma ray.
Pair production: When a gamma ray with energy greater than 1.02 MeV interacts with the electric field of a nucleus, converting its energy into the creation of a positron-electron pair.
Photoelectric effect: When an incoming photon interacts with and is absorbed by an electron within an atom, resulting in the ejection of the electron from the atom.
Photonuclear reaction: When a photon of high energy interacts with a nucleus, resulting in a fission or other nuclear reaction.
"A nuclear reaction must cause a transformation of at least one nuclide to another."
"If a nucleus interacts with another nucleus or particle and they then separate without changing the nature of any nuclide, the process is simply referred to as a type of nuclear scattering, rather than a nuclear reaction."
"In principle, a reaction can involve more than two particles colliding, but because the probability of three or more nuclei to meet at the same time at the same place is much less than for two nuclei, such an event is exceptionally rare."
"Triple alpha process for an example very close to a three-body nuclear reaction."
"The term 'nuclear reaction' may refer either to a change in a nuclide induced by collision with another particle or to a spontaneous change of a nuclide without collision."
"Natural nuclear reactions occur in the interaction between cosmic rays and matter."
"Nuclear reactions can be employed artificially to obtain nuclear energy, at an adjustable rate, on-demand."
"Nuclear chain reactions in fissionable materials produce induced nuclear fission."
"Various nuclear fusion reactions of light elements power the energy production of the Sun and stars."
"Two nuclei or a nucleus and an external subatomic particle can collide during a nuclear reaction."
"Yes, a collision between two nuclei can produce one or more new nuclides."
"Such an event is exceptionally rare due to the probability of three or more nuclei meeting at the same time at the same place."
"Yes, nuclear reactions can also refer to spontaneous changes of a nuclide without collision."
"Natural nuclear reactions occur in the interaction between cosmic rays and matter."
"Nuclear reactions can be employed artificially to obtain nuclear energy, at an adjustable rate, on-demand."
"Nuclear chain reactions in fissionable materials produce induced nuclear fission; various nuclear fusion reactions of light elements power the energy production of the Sun and stars."
"A nuclear reaction can occur in both nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry."
"Nuclear scattering occurs when nuclei or particles separate without changing the nature of any nuclide, whereas a nuclear reaction causes a transformation of at least one nuclide to another."
"Although nuclear reactions occur frequently in certain contexts, such as in nuclear power plants or stars, the probability of multiple nuclei colliding simultaneously is very low, making such events exceptionally rare."