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PsychonautQQ
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I read in my textbook that a decay process involving the strong interaction has a very short lifetime (10^-23s) whereas a decay process involving the weak interaction has a longer lifetime (10^-10s). Why is this?
For example, "www.oeaw.ac.at/smi/uploads/media/ETP-WS09-Lesson11.pdf" mentions ∑0(1385) → Λ + π0 as a strong decay, taking place in 10-23 sec and mediated by a gluon.Naty1 said:What is a 'decay process' involving the strong force?
Strong decay is a nuclear process in which a nucleus breaks apart into smaller fragments, releasing a large amount of energy. Weak decay, on the other hand, is a nuclear process in which a nucleus emits a particle, typically an electron or positron, and transforms into a different nucleus.
The lifetime of strong decay is determined by the strength of the strong nuclear force, which holds the nucleus together. The lifetime of weak decay is determined by the strength of the weak nuclear force, which is much weaker than the strong force.
The strong nuclear force is much stronger than the weak nuclear force, which means that strong decay occurs at a much faster rate. Additionally, the strong force only acts on particles within the nucleus, while the weak force can act on particles outside of the nucleus, allowing for a longer lifetime.
The strength of the nuclear force, the mass of the particles involved, and the energy released during the decay all play a role in determining the lifetime of both strong and weak decay processes.
Strong decay helps to stabilize heavy nuclei by breaking them into smaller, more stable fragments. Weak decay, on the other hand, can transform a nucleus into a more stable configuration by changing the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.