Tömegkülönbség

Tömegkülönbség, also known simply as mass difference, refers to the difference in mass between two particles, nuclei, or states in physics and chemistry. The concept is integral to the study of nuclear reactions, atomic isotope decay, and particle physics. In nuclear physics, the bulk of a nucleus' mass is not merely the sum of its constituent nucleons; binding energy contributes to a mass defect that is observable as a tömegkülönbség. By Einstein's mass–energy equivalence principle, E = mc², this mass defect is directly tied to the energy released or absorbed during nuclear reactions. Consequently, measuring the mass difference between initial and final states supplies a precise method to determine the reaction's Q-value—the net energy released.

In the context of isotopes, tömegkülönbség highlights differences caused by the varying number of neutrons while maintaining the same proton count. These differences in mass reveal important nuclear binding energies and help calculate the stability of isotopes. Experimental techniques such as mass spectrometry, time‑of‑flight measurements, and calorimetric methods measure these fine mass differences with high precision.

In particle physics, the mass difference between quark states or between hadrons aids in understanding the strong interaction and quark binding dynamics. Because mass differences can be extremely subtle, advanced detectors and precision measurement techniques are often required. Understanding tömegkülönbség is therefore essential for accurate modeling of nuclear processes, energy production, and fundamental particle properties.