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I.2.2 slide 1 of 13
Part I Review of Fundamentals

Module 2 Basic Physics and Mathematics
Used in Radiation Protection

Session 2 Excitation and Ionisation
Session I.2.2
IAEA Post Graduate Educational Course
Radiation Protection and Safe Use of Radiation Sources
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In this session we will discuss Electrons

We will discuss the Binding Energy which
holds the electrons to the nucleus

We will discuss Excitation and Ionisation
which are processes by which electrons are
removed from their stable location
Overview
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Electron Shells
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2n
2

Shell

n
Maximum No.
of Electrons
K 1 2
L 2 8
M 3 18
N 4 32
O 5 50
P 6 72
Electron Shells
K
L
M
N
O
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Shell Hydrogen Tungsten
K -13.5 -69,500
L -3.4 -11,280
M -1.5 -2,810
N -0.9 -588
O -0.54 -73
Binding Energy
(Binding Energy in eV)
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Binding Energy
10
30
40
50
60
70
100
80
90
110
20
50 60 70 80 90 100 10 20 30 40 0
0
Atomic Number (Z)
B
i
n
d
i
n
g

E
n
e
r
g
y

(
k
e
V
)

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Excitation
electron
orbitals
excited state
ground state
energy
nucleus
atom
energy
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normal energy level
higher energy level
excited
electron
energy
Excitation
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nucleus
electron
energy
excited state
Excitation
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Excitation
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Ionisation
Ionisation of an
outer shell
electron
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Ionisation
Ionisation of a
K-shell electron
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Where to Get More Information
Cember, H., Introduction to Health Physics, 3
rd

Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York (2000)

Firestone, R.B., Baglin, C.M., Frank-Chu, S.Y., Eds.,
Table of Isotopes (8
th
Edition, 1999 update), Wiley,
New York (1999)

International Atomic Energy Agency, The Safe Use
of Radiation Sources, Training Course Series No. 6,
IAEA, Vienna (1995)