Beta Decay Rates Changing by Ionization?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the phenomenon of beta decay rates changing due to ionization, specifically highlighting Rhenium-187, whose half-life was altered from 42 billion years to 33 years when stripped of its electrons. This effect is not unique to Rhenium-187; other isotopes like Dysprosium-163 and Beryllium-7 exhibit similar behaviors under ionization. While beta decay rates are generally influenced by electron presence, the impact is negligible for most nuclei, making Rhenium-187 and Dysprosium-163 notable exceptions. The reference for this research can be found in the paper published at PhysRevLett.77.5190.

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  • Research the mechanisms of beta decay in various isotopes
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Aakash Sunkari
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I recently read about a beta decay isotope (Rhenium-187),whose half life was changed from 42 X 109 years to 33 years, just by stripping the nucleus of all it's electrons. Why does this allow for a faster decay, and does this apply to all beta decay nuclei, or just Rhenium 187?
 
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Could you give the reference?
 
Technically all beta- decay rates are influenced by this, but for most nuclei the influence is completely negligible. Re-187 with its extremely small decay energy is a notable exception. While it can decay normally this is a very rare process. If you remove electrons it can do a bound-state decay where the produced electron stays in the atom, this process is much more common then.
Dysprosium-163 has this even more pronounced: As neutral atom it is stable, but if you remove its electrons it becomes radioactive.

Beryllium-7 is the opposite: It can decay only via electron capture. Remove all the electrons and it becomes stable. It has not enough energy for a beta+ decay.

These are very exotic examples.
 
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