Universal Nuclide Chart
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How to use this applet |
The applet is started automatically on opening the webpage if you have already installed the Java-Plugin 1.2.2 or higher.
If you haven't already installed it, open the Java-Plugin and non-windows OS to get information on the Plugin and the installation of this Plugin.
The applet is optimized for a desktop area of minimum 800*600 pixels, better 1024*768 pixels. With a resolution of 1024*768 pixels, the whole applet can be shown in the browser at once, as it has a size of 770*575 pixels.
The applet simulates radioactive decay schemes for over 2600 nuclides in two different arrangements and with three different standard colour schemes. Also shown are nuclides with a high gamma radiation (blinking).
Metastable states of elements reached through decay are shown in the top right corner of the element box. They either have another colour than the ground state of the nuclide or they are made visible with a black border around the metastable state. If only the metastable state is part of the decay chain, this is show in the correct colour and the rest of the box is transparent.
If there is no information available on a daughter product, this is shown transparent and the decay scheme ends there.
On dragging the mouse over the nuclide boxes shown in decay chain, the basic decay data are shown. For the metastable states, one must be careful to position the mouse accurately.
For this simulation, the user can set the following:
Select Nuclide:
With the two combo boxes, the user can select an element and the isotope of the element, characterised by the atomic mass. The m or n after the mass shows that this is the metastable state of the isotope. The default value for the selected nuclide is U238.
Time Step:
Here the user can change the time interval in which the daughters are painted onto the screen. The value is given in milliseconds with a default value of 200 ms.
Start / Stop:
With the Start-Button, the user starts the simulation with the chosen selections. During the simulation, the applet can be halted by pressing the Stop-Button. With the simulation halted, it is only possible to change the time step, and then to restart. As soon as the simulation finishes, the Stop-Button is automatically changed to a Start-Button and all input and selection fields are enabled again.
Plot:
There are two different ways of showing the simulation. The first one is the Normal Plot where the number of protons Z in the nuclide is shown as a function of the number of neutrons N.
The second plot is the Compact Plot. In this case the quantity A-2Z is shown as a function of the number of protons Z, where A is the atomic number (N+Z). This leads to a more compact representation of the decay scheme.
Colour Scheme:
The applet can be run with three different standard colour schemes. The first is the Karlsruhe Colour Scheme, where the colours depend on the main mode of decay (alpha, ß-, ec/ß+, IT, SF, stable).
The second is the Strasbourg Colour Scheme in which different colours are used for the decay processes.
The third colour scheme is the General Electric Colour Scheme. Here the colours depend on the half-lives of the nuclides (<1d, 1-10d, 10-100d, 100d-10y, 10y-5x108y, Stable), not on the decay mode. The default colour scheme is "Karlsruhe". For more information on the colours look at What the colours mean.
Th232 / U235 / U238:
With these buttons the user can simulate the three natural decay families (Th232, U235 and U238) directly. These nuclides can of course also be selected through the use of the combo boxes.
E(MeV):
This field shows the threshold gamma energy per disintegration in mega electron volt (MeV) to initiate "blinking". This can be changed also while the simulation is running. As decimal separator, a point (.) must be used. The default value is 2.0 MeV, and this is also introduced when the user deletes the contents of the field.
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Java-Plugin and non Windows OS |
As the Applet is written in Java 1.2.2 and the actual browsers Netscape 4.7 and Internet Explorer 5.0 only support Java 1.1, a special plugin is needed to run the applet. This plugin exists for several operating systems and machines.
If you haven't already installed the Java-Plugin 1.2.2 or higher, you have to download this plugin for your machine before running the applet.
On visiting this page without having already downloaded the plugin for the used system, a download window for the Windows-Plugin is opened automatically or by clicking into the Applet frame.
If you use Windows, you can download the plugin directly, if not, please download the plugin from this site.
Java-Plugins for several operating systems and machines:
WINDOWS 95/98/NT
The Java-Plugin for Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT has a download-size of 5,3 MB if you choose U.S. English Version and 7,4 MB if you choose Internationalized Version.
The Plugin works very well with Netscape Navigator 4.7 and Internet Explorer 5.0, but we don't have any experience with other browsers.
On using Internet Explorer, a security warning box is opened and asks whether you want to install the Java Plug-in 1.2.2. Answer with yes, select the version you want (U.S. English or International) and press the Install-Button. The Plugin is then downloaded and the install-shield opened automatically. You only have to agree to the licence agreement and to choose the destination location. At the end of the setup you might have to restart your system. After having done so the applet should work without problems.
On using Netscape Navigator, you have to click into the white place reserved for the applet to get the plugin. Then you reach a website where you choose the version and start the download. In this case you have to choose a place where the downloaded file should be saved (don't change the name or the extension (it must be .exe). When the download is completed, you have to run the downloaded exe-file to get the install-shield. Then it works the same way than with the Internet Explorer.
If you use both browsers, the plugin is introduced to both when you download it. You don't have to download or install it two times.
LINUX
The Java-Plugin for Linux has a download-size of 12,9 MB.
To download it choose the Linux-link on this site. You get a dialog where you can choose to save the file and the saving location on your hard disk where you want to save the file. Don't change the name or the extension (.sh) of the file. After the download is completed, run the downloaded file from the console. You get an install-shield where you have to agree to the licence agreement. Eventually, you have to restart your system at the end of the installation. The applet should than work without problems.
HP-UX
To download the HP-UX-Plugin, you have to fill in a registration form and accept the licence agreement before you can download the plugin. The HP-UX-Plugin has a download size of 26,9 MB.
As we don't have experience with Unix, we don't know yet how the installation works and whether there are any problems or difficulties.
DIGITAL UNIX
The download-file for the Digital Unix-Plugin has a size of 16,3 MB.
We can't give any information on the installation and eventual difficulties or problems, as we don't use Unix.
SOLARIS SPARC
The Plugin for Solaris Sparc has a download-size of 13,9 MB, but we don't have further information on this plugin.
SOLARIS INTEL
The download-size for the Solaris Intel-Plugin is 12,4 MB. We can't give further information, as we don't have it.
IBM AIX
The IBM-AIX-Plugin for Java 1.2.2. has a download-size of 22,0 MB. Before you can download it, you have to accept a licence agreement. That's all of our information.
For other operating systems or machines you can check the availability of a plugin for Java 1.2.2 or higher on the web, for example on the Java site