Do temperature and gravity affect particle or nuclear decay?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the effects of temperature and gravity on particle or nuclear decay, focusing on whether these factors influence the decay rate or the energy of decay products. Participants raise questions and hypotheses regarding the implications of time dilation and altitude on decay processes.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether temperature affects the decay rate or the energy of decay products, particularly the electron anti-neutrino.
  • One participant asserts that temperature does not affect decay rates, but acknowledges that the energy distribution of decay products may change if the decaying atom is moving fast.
  • Another participant introduces the concept of time dilation, suggesting that warmer atoms may decay slower, although they note this effect is negligible at reasonable temperatures.
  • Altitude is mentioned as a factor that could affect decay, with references to carbon dating and the assumption of linear time.
  • Participants discuss gravitational time dilation, noting its minimal impact on decay rates, with specific numerical estimates provided regarding height differences and their effects over geological timescales.
  • There is a challenge to the assumption of synchronized clocks in the context of gravitational time dilation and its implications for decay measurements.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the influence of temperature and gravity on decay processes. While some acknowledge the effects of time dilation, others argue that these effects are negligible, leading to an unresolved discussion regarding the significance of these factors.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on specific conditions such as temperature and altitude, as well as the assumptions made about time dilation effects and their relevance to decay measurements.

nitsuj
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I thought of another question(s) :) does temperature affect the rate of the decay at all?
Does temperature effect the energy of the decay; in that the energy of the electron anti neutrino would be higher?
 
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nitsuj said:
I thought of another question(s) :) does temperature affect the rate of the decay at all?
No.
nitsuj said:
Does temperature effect the energy of the decay; in that the energy of the electron anti neutrino would be higher?
If the decaying atom moves fast, the energy distribution of the decay products will look different. It is not a simple shift, it is more complicated.
 
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mfb said:
No
Be careful with the ”at all”. Warmer atoms will decay slower due to time dilation. Of course, this effect is completely negligible at reasonable temperatures.
 
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Orodruin said:
Be careful with the ”at all”. Warmer atoms will decay slower due to time dilation. Of course, this effect is completely negligible at reasonable temperatures.

So altitude from Earth effects the decay too; I remember once making the point regarding carbon dating that we assume the time is linear and comparable. Never thought from that perspective, the (geometric) effects on the decay for this tritium veil.
 
nitsuj said:
So altitude from Earth effects the decay too
Be careful (my favourite words). Locally, there will be no difference whatsoever because your time-dilation will be the same as that of the experiment you are doing.
 
Gravitational time dilation is about 10-13 per kilometer height difference. Something 10 km deep for a billion years would appear a few hours younger than expected. Needless to say that no geologic timing method is remotely close to such a sensitivity.
 
mfb said:
Gravitational time dilation is about 10-13 per kilometer height difference. Something 10 km deep for a billion years would appear a few hours younger than expected. Needless to say that no geologic timing method is remotely close to such a sensitivity.
lol yes, that's assuming the time is linear and comparable.

not sure what a particularly made up case of a small differential and something about sensitivity has to do with it, certainly doesn't mean that the "clocks" were always synchronized.
 
It means gravitational time dilation is completely negligible for determining the age of things on Earth. The same applies to the time dilation from motion.
 

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