Time Dilation's Effect on Radioactive Decay

[Sothh]

Does time dilation effect radioactive decay?

For example, if I speed a radioactive atom up to near light speeds, will its decay slow?

If so, could this be used to study atoms with a very short decay time?

 

[Doc Al]

Does time dilation effect radioactive decay?

It affects all physical processes.

For example, if I speed a radioactive atom up to near light speeds, will its decay slow?

Sure.

 

[Sothh]

Does temperature effect time dilation? Since a "hot" atom will be moving more then a "cold" atom, with the speed difference change the decay of the atom?

 

[bcrowell]

A classic example of the original question is cosmic-ray muons, which would be unlikely to reach the Earth's surface except for time dilation. An accelerator version: http://www.lightandmatter.com/html_books/genrel/ch02/ch02.html , Example 6: Large time dilation

Does temperature effect time dilation? Since a "hot" atom will be moving more then a "cold" atom, with the speed difference change the decay of the atom?

Yes. The effect is extremely small at ordinary temperatures, but for example it's big enough to make the Mossbauer effect impossible to observe in gases:

http://www.lightandmatter.com/html_books/genrel/ch01/ch01.html#Section1.5 , 1.5.6 The Pound-Rebka experiment

-Ben

 

[Sothh]

Thanks. That clears a lot up.

Everywhere else I have looked states that temperature does not effect radioactive decay.

 

[bcrowell]

Thanks. That clears a lot up.

Everywhere else I have looked states that temperature does not effect radioactive decay.

The effect is extremely small, so that statement is an excellent approximation.