Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site reed.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!reed!clyde From: clyde@reed.UUCP (Clyde Bryja) Newsgroups: net.physics Subject: Re: Radioactivity and Temperature Message-ID: <1960@reed.UUCP> Date: Wed, 2-Oct-85 17:35:46 EDT Article-I.D.: reed.1960 Posted: Wed Oct 2 17:35:46 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 4-Oct-85 05:44:28 EDT References: <300@ihnet.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Reed College, Portland, Oregon Lines: 28 > Is there anything that affects radioactive decay rates? > -- > Karl Dahlke Other than placing nuclei into relativistic situations (ie. great gravitational fields, near light speed velocities, etc.) I know of only one way of changing half-lives at all. I greatly doubt that there are any others, but I could simply be ignorant of such. What I have in mind affects only one type of decay-- electron capture (or EC). The priciple of EC is that an electron from an inner orbital is captured by the nucleus. It then merges with one of the protons to form a neutron (thereby changing the atomic number of the atom). I know that this process can be affected by the chemical environment. For example, if the atom in question combined chemically with fluorine (very electron-hungry stuff), the electrons in the atom would (in a sense) be pulled somewhat away from the nucleus by the fluorine atom(s). I believe that a change in the half-life of about 5% or so has been observed in such cases. That may not be much, but it is interesting to consider. -- +++++++++++ "For Easter Day is Christmas time, Clyde Bryja And far away is near, Box 21, Reed College And two and two is more than four, Portland, OR 97202 And over there is here." Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com