Isotope halflife table by progamming

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on using genetic programming to determine the half-lives of unknown isotopes based on the number of protons and neutrons. Participants express skepticism about the existence of a simple function linking nucleon counts to half-lives, emphasizing that data is primarily derived from experimental results. The user seeks a comprehensive half-life table in seconds and discusses challenges in coding across various programming languages, noting incomplete implementations. For stable isotopes, it is suggested to use a large number like '9.99e99' seconds to represent their half-lives, while acknowledging the need for more research on missing data. The conversation highlights the complexity of isotope half-life calculations and the limitations of available data.
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i wan to do the folowimg :
[ 1 ] use the computer to find halftimes of isotoops that are jet unkown
[ 2 ] i want to use genetic programming
[ 3 ] i use the idea that there is a function = halftime( protons , neutrons )

i have questions :
- is [ 1 ][ 2 ] a good idea
- i don't know if this [ 3 ] is right
- i need a halftime of isotoops tabel in sec . where can i find this

remark :
- [ 2 ] is being written [ by me ] in :
- - liberty & just basic [ ready but no IO jet ]
- - free basic [ no proof of concept jet ]
- - C++ [ no proof of concept jet ]
- - python 2.7 [ proof of concept ]
 
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I'm no nuclear physicist, but I would be extremely surprised if there was a simple function linking the number of nucleons with the lifetime of an isotope.

As for using a genetic algorithm, what would be your search space?
 
Is there any theory linking half-life with number of protons and neutrons? Or is it all just derived from experiment?
 
There are theories, but the actual data is from experiment.
 
@ drclaude :
i think it is not a simple function :
- halftime( protons , neutrons )
to
but GP can find complex ones to

GP wil never find a exact one
but a nice near one can be useful

i wil use every operator i can think of

where can i find a tabel in sec. for this ?

remark :
- c++ code : stil a error
- liberty & just basic code : complete only file IO missing
- python code : complete only file IO missing
- freebasic code : lots of errors
 
i have now a random acces file whit the known halftimes

somtimes the file remarks ´stable´ in the halftime field
the halftimeinsec field is then ´0.00e00´

what must i take as halftimeinsec if halftime = ´stable´

the array halftime( protons , neutrons ) is not complete

what do i use as halftime(p,n) if halftimeinsec is unkown
i can't use 0 becoause i want to do
erroronthispoint = abs( output ~ halftime(p,n) ) div halftime(p,n)
i want the relative error
 
Just use a very large number for halftimeinsec. Any (correct) formula that includes decay will just ignore the decay for a stable isotope in its result. That's what you want, isn't it?
 
so for 'stable' i can use '9.99e99' sec

but what do i use for the missing ones ?

i can't use 0
 
  • #10
You have to do more searching or assume they are stable. Otoh, there are plenty ways of labelling data so that your program can pick it up and notify the user. If you don't have the information then you can't use it.
 
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