We argue that the experimental measurement of the lifetime and decay law of metastable helium is a promising way to find a deviation from quantum mechanics. We analyze the decay of the metastable state for a quartic deformation of quantum mechanics. We find that the absolute change of the mean lifetime can be significant even if the modification is small. We show that, in the Wigner--Weisskopf approximation, the deviation from the exponential law in the modified theory can occur on time scales comparable with the lifetime.We argue that the experimental measurement of the lifetime and decay law of metastable helium is a promising way to find a deviation from quantum mechanics. We analyze the decay of the metastable state for a quartic deformation of quantum mechanics. We find that the absolute change of the mean lifetime can be significant even if the modification is small. We show that, in the Wigner--Weisskopf approximation, the deviation from the exponential law in the modified theory can occur on time scales comparable with the lifetime.

quant-pharXiv:2610.24857Oct 20, 20260 citations

Long-time deviations from exponential decay in atomic spontaneous emission theory

P. L. Knight, Peter W. Milonni

Physics Letters AApr 1, 197679 citations

On the quantum foundations of the exponential decay law

Luciano Fonda, G. C. Ghirardi, A. Rimini +1 more

Nuovo cimento della Società italiana di fisica. A, Nuclei, particles and fieldsJun 1, 1973108 citations

Non-exponential decay in Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Field Theory

Francesco Giacosa

We describe some salient features as well as some recent developments concerning short-time deviations from the exponential decay law in the context of Quantum Mechanics by using the Lee Hamiltonian approach and Quantum Field Theory by using relativistic Lagrangians. In particular, the case in which two decay channels are present is analyzed: the ratio of decay probability densities, which is a constant equal to the ratio of decay widths in the exponential limit, shows in general sizable fluctuations which persist also at long times.We describe some salient features as well as some recent developments concerning short-time deviations from the exponential decay law in the context of Quantum Mechanics by using the Lee Hamiltonian approach and Quantum Field Theory by using relativistic Lagrangians. In particular, the case in which two decay channels are present is analyzed: the ratio of decay probability densities, which is a constant equal to the ratio of decay widths in the exponential limit, shows in general sizable fluctuations which persist also at long times.

arXiv:1312.3315Journal of Physics Conference SeriesOct 10, 20142 citations

Oscillations in the Decay Law: A Possible Quantum Mechanical Explanation of the Anomaly in the Experiment at the GSI Facility

Francesco Giacosa, Giuseppe Pagliara

We study the deviations from the usual exponential decay law for quantum mechanical systems. We show that simple and physically motivated deviations from the Breit-Wigner energy distribution of the unstable state are sufficient to generate peculiar deviations from the exponential decay law. Denoting with $p(t)$ the survival probability, its derivative $h(t)$ shows typically an oscillating behavior on top of the usual exponential function. We argue that this can be a viable explanation of the observed experimental results at GSI Darmstadt, where the function $h(t)$ has been experimentally measured for electron capture decays of Hydrogen-like ions. Moreover, if our interpretation is correct, we predict that by measuring $h(t)$ at times close to the initial one, the number of decays per second rapidly drops to zero.We study the deviations from the usual exponential decay law for quantum mechanical systems. We show that simple and physically motivated deviations from the Breit-Wigner energy distribution of the unstable state are sufficient to generate peculiar deviations from the exponential decay law. Denoting with $p(t)$ the survival probability, its derivative $h(t)$ shows typically an oscillating behavior on top of the usual exponential function. We argue that this can be a viable explanation of the observed experimental results at GSI Darmstadt, where the function $h(t)$ has been experimentally measured for electron capture decays of Hydrogen-like ions. Moreover, if our interpretation is correct, we predict that by measuring $h(t)$ at times close to the initial one, the number of decays per second rapidly drops to zero.

arXiv:1110.1669Quantum MatterFeb 1, 201324 citations

p(t)

the survival probability, its derivative

h(t)

shows typically an oscillating behavior on top of the usual exponential function. We argue that this can be a viable explanation of the observed experimental results at GSI Darmstadt, where the function

h(t)

has been experimentally measured for electron capture decays of Hydrogen-like ions. Moreover, if our interpretation is correct, we predict that by measuring

h(t)

at times close to the initial one, the number of decays per second rapidly drops to zero.