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Equation 24 · Part 3 · The Valley of Stability Is a Fitness Landscape

Symbol Z

M(A,Z) c2≈α(A)−β(A) Z+γ(A) Z2∓δ(A)M(A,Z)\,c^2 \approx \alpha(A) - \beta(A)\,Z + \gamma(A)\,Z^2 \mp \delta(A)
ZZ

What this part means

Z is a part of this expression. Its role is fixed by the surrounding article and by the operations shown in the formula.

Its job in the formula

Z is a part of this expression. Its role is fixed by the surrounding article and by the operations shown in the formula.

The passage around this formula

Fix the mass number A and let Z vary. Because the Coulomb and asymmetry terms in the semi-empirical mass formula are both approximately quadratic in Z at fixed A , the atomic mass along an isobaric chain is, to good approximation, a parabola in Z : M(A,Z) c2≈α(A)−β(A) Z+γ(A) Z2∓δ(A)M(A,Z)\,c^2 \approx \alpha(A) - \beta(A)\,Z + \gamma(A)\,Z^2 \mp \delta(A). where α\alpha , β\beta , and γ\gamma collect the volume,…

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