Can the decay process of Nickel-78 be stopped?

[jerich1000]

I'm somewhat new here, so forgive me if I ask an inappropriate question (defined as too far out there; this is supposed to be a legitimate site).

How could it be possible to make Nickel-78 stable, and still remain Nickel-78?

Nickel-78 decays via Beta-minus decay, which means one of its neutrons is turned into a W-boson, which in turn decays into an electron and an antineutrino.

Through the process, one down quark is turned into an up quark, which means it's a flavor change, which means the process is a "weak decay", or decay via the weak force.

I've listed the above info to highlight that there are a number of steps invovled in the entire transition. Can any of those steps be halted, thereby halting the decay process?

The quick answer, of course, is no. But if someone were to hire you for an infinite amount of money to stop the process , what change to the process could you make?

Thanks

 

[nismaratwork]

I'm somewhat new here, so forgive me if I ask an inappropriate question (defined as too far out there; this is supposed to be a legitimate site).

How could it be possible to make Nickel-78 stable, and still remain Nickel-78?

Nickel-78 decays via Beta-minus decay, which means one of its neutrons is turned into a W-boson, which in turn decays into an electron and an antineutrino.

Through the process, one down quark is turned into an up quark, which means it's a flavor change, which means the process is a "weak decay", or decay via the weak force.

I've listed the above info to highlight that there are a number of steps invovled in the entire transition. Can any of those steps be halted, thereby halting the decay process?

The quick answer, of course, is no. But if someone were to hire you for an infinite amount of money to stop the process , what change to the process could you make?

Thanks

There is no way that I know of to do what you describe, unless money has some magical ability to halt beta-decay.

 

[jerich1000]

I was expecting the answer, "No, but can I have the money anyway?"

 

[nismaratwork]

I was expecting the answer, "No, but can I have the money anyway?"

That would also be a really good answer. :) All kidding aside, I don't think it's possible. You would be better off using that money to make a constant supply of Nickel-78, right?