Deuteron Mass - Definition, Properties, MeV, AMU, FAQs

Did you know that deuterons are found in a type of hydrogen which is called heavy hydrogen, and have some amazing real-life uses? They help us create clean energy by powering fusion reactors and are also used in cancer treatment in which they help to destroy harmful cell without affecting the healthy ones and many more. In this article, we are going to study about deuterons definition history and more. Keep continuing with the article to know in depth about deuterons

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This Story also Contains

1. What is Deuteron
2. Mass of Deuterium
3. Difference Between Deuteron and Deuterium
4. History of Deutron
5. Properties of Deuteron
6. Deuteron Mass and Charge
7. Measurement of Binding Energy of Deuteron
8. Applications of Deuteron Mass

What is Deuteron

A deuteron is a very small (tiny) part of an atom, which is a type of hydrogen atom called heavy hydrogen or deuterium. Deutron has one neutron and one proton inside it.

Deuteron symbol is represented as 12D. A non-aligned atom of 2H is termed as deuterium. It is the unpretentious bound state of nucleons and thus gives us an ideal system for learning the nucleon-nucleon interaction. For nuclear physicists, the deuterons should be what the hydrogen atoms are for atomic physicists.

Mass of Deuterium

$
\begin{array}{|l|l|}
\hline \text { Form of Mass } & \text { Value } \\
\hline \text { Mass in Atomic Mass Units (amu) } & 2.013553212745(40) \mathrm{u} \\
\hline \text { Mass in MeV/c² } & 1875.612928(12) \mathrm{MeV} / \mathrm{c}^2 \\
\hline \text { Mass in Kilograms (kg) } & 3.3435837724 \times 10^{-27} \mathrm{~kg} \\
\hline \text { Mass in Grams (g) } & 3.3435837724 \times 10^{-24} \mathrm{~g} \\
\hline \text { Mass in Joules (J) (via } E=m c^2 \text { ) } & 3.005 \times 10^{-10} \mathrm{~J} \\
\hline \text { Mass in Electron Volts (eV) } & 1.875612928 \times 10^9 \mathrm{eV} \\
\hline \text { Mass in Energy Equivalent (GeV) } & 1.875612928 \mathrm{GeV} \\
\hline
\end{array}
$

Difference Between Deuteron and Deuterium

History of Deutron

Deuteron gets its name from the Greek word “deuteros”, which means “second”. It refers to the two particles that make up the nucleus. Harold Urey first discovered it in 1931. Deuteron’s stability has been noteworthy since its discovery.

Properties of Deuteron

• It is made of with one proton and one neutron.
• Deuteron has positive charge because of the proton inside it.
• Mass of the deuteron is approx twice of the proton, since it contains both proton and a neutron inside it. It is around $3.34 \times 10^{-27} \mathrm{~kg}$.
• Mass of deuteron in amu or mass of deuterium is 2.0135 amu. 1 amu in MeV is 931.5 MeV. So, mass of deuteron in MeV is 1875.612928 MeV.
• The charge radius of deuteron is 2.12799 fm.
• The deuteron charge is + 1e.
• Deuterons are stable, meaning they do not decay over time, unlike some other particles.
• If has magnetic moment means it can interact with the magnetic field. This is important in fields like nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
• The deuteron has a binding energy of about 2.2 MeV (Mega electron Volts), which holds the proton and neutron together in the nucleus.
• It is the unpretentious bound state of nucleons and thus gives us an ideal system for learning the nucleon-nucleon interaction. For nuclear physicists, the deuteron should be what the hydrogen atom is for atomic physicists.
• Just as the measured Balmer series of electromagnetic transitions between the excited states of hydrogen led to an understanding of the structure of hydrogen, so the electromagnetic transitions between the excited states of the deuteron result to an understanding of its structure. Unfortunately, the deuteron does not have any excited states. It is such a feebly bound system that the only "excited states" are unbound systems comprising of a free proton and neutron.

Deuteron Mass and Charge

After knowing about properties of deuteron, now move to the mass and charge of deuteron.

Let us explain deuteron Mass and Charge. Deuterium is an atomic particle with a proton and neutron that is stable. Hydrogen-2 is indicated by the letters D or 2H. The mass of a deuteron is measured in atomic mass units (2.0135 amu) or million electron volts (1875.612928 MeV). The deuteron has a charge of +1e. This is because protons are present.

Measurement of Binding Energy of Deuteron

In Mass Doublet Method, two nearby masses are used i. e. Having the same value of mass number. In the mass spectrograph both ions are produced simultaneously in the ions source and are focused as two nearly lines.

The formation of hydrocarbon with great variety of mass numbers provides a convenient method of mass comparison with a doublet method.

Following determinations have been made:

$
\begin{gathered}
m\left(\mathrm{C}_6 \mathrm{H}_{12}\right)-m\left(\mathrm{C}_6 \mathrm{D}_6\right)=(9.289710 \pm 0.000024) \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{u} \\
6 m(\mathrm{C})+12 m(\mathrm{H})-6 m(\mathrm{C})-6 m(\mathrm{D})=9.289710 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{u} \\
12 m(\mathrm{H})-6 m(\mathrm{D})=9.289710 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{u}
\end{gathered}
$

Using $m\left({ }^1 \mathrm{H}\right)=1.007825037 \mathrm{u}$,

$
\begin{gathered}
12 \times 1.007825037-6 m(\mathrm{D})=9.289710 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{u} \\
m\left({ }^2 \mathrm{H}\right)=2.014101789 \pm 0.000000021 \mathrm{u}
\end{gathered}
$
$\begin{aligned} & \qquad 5 m(\mathrm{C})+12 m(\mathrm{D})-6 m(\mathrm{C})-6 m(\mathrm{D})=9.289710 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{u} \\ & \text { Using } m\left({ }^{12} \mathrm{C}\right)=12 \mathrm{u}, \\ & m\left({ }^2 \mathrm{H}\right)=2.014101771 \pm 0.000000015 \mathrm{u}\end{aligned}$

These accurate values are in very good arrangement.

With this mass of 2H and using the measured ¹H and neutron masses, we can find the binding energy

$B=\left[m\left({ }^1 \mathrm{H}\right)+m(n)-m\left({ }^2 \mathrm{H}\right)\right] c^2=2.22463 \pm 0.00004 \mathrm{MeV}$

We can also determine this binding energy directly by bringing a proton and a neutron (n) together to form 2H and measuring the energy of the γ- ray photon that is emitted:

${ }^1 \mathrm{H}+\mathrm{n} \rightarrow{ }^2 \mathrm{H}+\mathrm{Y}$

The resultant binding energy, which is equal to the observed energy of the photon less a small recoil correction, is 2.224589 ± 0.000002 MeV, in excellent agreement with the mass spectroscopic value. A third method, called photo dissociation, uses the reverse reaction,

$\gamma+{ }^2 \mathrm{H} \rightarrow{ }^1 \mathrm{H}+n$

In which a - ray photon breaks apart a deuteron. The minimum - ray energy that accomplishes this process is equal to the binding energy (again, corrected for the recoil of the final products). The observed value is 2.224 ± 0.002 MeV, in good agreement with the mass spectroscopic value.

Applications of Deuteron Mass

Nuclear Fusion Research:

• Key role in fusion reactions like deuterium-tritium fusion.
• Studied in reactors such as ITER for clean energy production.

Medical Applications:

• Used in neutron therapy for cancer treatment.
• Deuteron mass helps calculate the energy levels required.

Particle Accelerators:

• Deuterons are accelerated for nuclear physics experiments.
• Mass is crucial for determining energy and speed in accelerators.

Nuclear Reaction Calculations:

• Vital for calculating binding energy and reaction rates.
• Helps understand energy output in fusion and fission processes.

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