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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
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Organization: Reed College, Portland, Oregon
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> 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."