Software for calculating beta decay

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the search for software tools to calculate the energy spectrum of electrons or positrons released during beta decay for specific isotopes. Participants explore theoretical aspects of beta decay, including the challenges of understanding certain parameters and the shape of the energy spectrum.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks freely available software for calculating the energy spectrum of beta decay, expressing difficulty in understanding certain theoretical parameters related to the process.
  • Another participant suggests a method involving conservation laws to estimate maximum and minimum energies of the emitted particles, but acknowledges limitations in their own understanding of the spectrum's shape.
  • A subsequent reply indicates that the original query about the exact shape of the spectrum remains unaddressed, highlighting the need for more specific information.
  • Another participant mentions a general formula for the beta energy distribution, providing a link to a resource but does not elaborate on the formula itself.
  • One participant shares their experience of finding a text that details the equations needed, noting the complexity of working with density functions and the challenges of normalization.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method or software for calculating the beta decay spectrum, and multiple viewpoints and uncertainties regarding the theoretical aspects and practical applications remain evident.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of understanding regarding the theoretical background of beta decay, with some indicating that certain parameters are not clearly defined or understood. The discussion reflects a mix of practical software needs and theoretical challenges without resolving these issues.

cymric
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Does anyone have a link or pointer to preferably freely available software with which I can calculate the energy spectrum of the electrons or positrons liberated in regular beta or beta+ - decay for a given isotope? My background is not in physics (chemical engineering, rather), and although I found the description of the theory of beta decay on http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nuclear/beta2.html#c1" very useful, it doesn't tell me what C and F(Z', KE_e) are, or how to calculate them. Introductory texts on the quantummechanical theory of beta decay quickly went over my head, so these two unknowns remain a mystery to me. I'd be very grateful for any leads and/or help.

(I know the spectra have in most cases been carefully measured and tabulated in thick data books, but for that I need to go to a library which is about 100 km away from me :cry:.)
 
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There's roundabout way of doing this (I'm sure there are better ways).
1) from the loss in energy as the product decays, and using conservation laws (energy and momentum), you should be able to calculate the maximum and minimum energies of the electron/anti-neutrino pair (or positron/neutrino). As for the shape of the spectrum, I haven't gotten that far yet in my studies.
 
Thanks for your answer, but this doesn't help me one bit. It's precisely the exact shape I'm after.
 
After hard searching, I came up with a text which writes out the equations in full. It did require a bit of Real World data to 'drive' the function, and then reminded me what a pain it is to work with density functions which must be normalised (and what an even bigger pain it is if you want to draw samples from that density function), but I got the job done.

I have to say beta decay theory is a beautiful example of lots of approximations still yielding a very workable and useful result.
 

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