# Can ionizing radiation cause a proton to be removed from an atom?

I understand that light of 100nm or less can cause an electron to be ejected from an atom, creating an ion.

Could it instead cause a proton to be ejected from the atom? (This would also be "ionizing")

Does it matter whether the atom is stable? If an atom is already an ion, does anything happen differently?

• I guess for hydrogen there is not much difference in removing a proton or an electron (the other one is left over). – Paŭlo Ebermann Dec 6 '20 at 22:11
• FWIW, it's also possible for light to eject a proton (i.e. an ${\rm H^+}$ ion) from a molecule, leaving the rest of the molecule ionized. And, unlike removing protons from a nucleus, this doesn't require gamma rays. – Ilmari Karonen Dec 7 '20 at 20:56

## 4 Answers

Yes, this can occur. Here is an example of such an experiment: https://journals.aps.org/pr/abstract/10.1103/PhysRev.100.791

The binding energy of a proton in a nucleus is generally on the order of 1 MeV. Therefore the photon has to be a gamma ray.

Does it matter whether the atom is stable?

If the nucleus is proton-rich compared to the line of stability, then the process could go with slightly lower-energy gammas, and would probably have a higher cross-section.

If an atom is already an ion, does anything happen differently?

No, electrons are not normally significant actors in nuclear processes. The energy scales differ by about a factor of a million.

• Nit pick: 1MeV photons can be gamma rays (photons from a nucleus), or X-rays.(photons from acceleration of electrons) like those from a Linac (e.g., those used in radiation therapy) Otherwise good answer. – DarcyThomas Dec 6 '20 at 8:14
• @Darcy Good point, although usage of the terms "X-ray" and "gamma ray" isn't completely standardised, as I explained here: physics.stackexchange.com/a/561217/123208 – PM 2Ring Dec 6 '20 at 13:42

Ionising an atom by removing an electron requires that the photon carries the needed binding energy. The binding energy of an electron is of the order of few $$eV$$.

(copied from wiki)

Instead, if you liked to remove a proton from the nucleus, the photon would need to carry the binding energy of a few $$MeV$$ -- check out the mass defect, which is often stated as "average binding energy per nucleon".

Hence, taking only this argument, the photon with $$\lambda=100nm$$ is not able to remove a proton.

Calculating the energy of the $$100$$ nm photon, we get $$\frac{hc}{\lambda}=12.4 ~\mathrm{eV}.$$

This energy is well below the typical proton separation energies of nuclei, around 8 MeV (roughly a factor of $$10^6$$ larger). This means the wavelength of the photon would be on the order of 100 fm! But, there are photons of that wavelength (and energy). They typically arise from cosmic or man-made processes, and we give them the informal name of "gamma rays." Technically, a gamma ray is a photon emitted by a nucleus, but many classify any photon of energy about about 200 keV as a gamma ray.

These high-energy photons with $$E > 8~ \mathrm{MeV}$$ can certainly knock a proton out of a nucleus, but it must have a direct interaction with the nucleus, disturbing the nuclear potential.

Typically, the term "ionizing" is reserved for the addition or removal of electrons from an atom. One rarely speaks of nuclei as being ionized because the nucleus has a positive charge. If we change the number of protons, we actually change the element. You can't talk about removing a proton from nitrogen and getting ionized nitrogen; it's carbon.

Neutron and proton separation energies and probabilities are dependent on the particular N,Z nuclide, but whether the nuclide is stable or radioactive doesn't seem to enhance particle separation as a general rule.

Because the atomic electrons are so far away from the nucleus, they have little-to-no effect on particle separation energies.

In the title, you are asking whether ionizing radiation can cause a proton to be removed from an atom. In the question body, you clarify that you are thinking about photons. However, there are also other forms of ionizing radiation. In practice, the most important ionizing radiation that can cause the release of a proton is neutron radiation.

In particular, the following reactions are important – not only for nuclear reactors:

• $$\mathrm{^{16}O\ (n,\ p)\ ^{16}N}$$ – the main source for the dose rate at the primary circuit of light water reactors during power operation,
• $$\mathrm{^{14}N\ (n,\ p)\ ^{14}C}$$ – the main source of radiocarbon in the atmosphere,
• $$\mathrm{^{35}Cl\ (n,\ p)\ ^{35}S}$$ – used as a marker in biochemistry, also found as impurity in nuclear reactors (mainly boiling water reactors),
• $$\mathrm{^{32}S\ (n,\ p)\ ^{32}P}$$ – used as a marker in biochemistry, also found as impurity in nuclear reactors (mainly boiling water reactors),
• $$\mathrm{^{58}Ni\ (n,\ p)\ ^{58}Co}$$ – found in nickel alloys and stainless steel of nuclear power plants and corresponding activated corrosion products (mainly from the steam generators in pressurized water reactors) and is one of the most important sources for the dose rate at the primary circuit of light water reactors during outages,
• $$\mathrm{^{54}Fe\ (n,\ p)\ ^{54}Mn}$$ – found in steel and other alloys of nuclear power plants and corresponding activated corrosion products
• If you aren't familiar with the notation used in this answer, please see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reaction#Nomenclature "Instead of using the full equations in the style above, in many situations a compact notation is used to describe nuclear reactions. This style of the form A(b,c)D is equivalent to A + b producing c + D." – PM 2Ring Dec 6 '20 at 13:39