Nonexponential decay law

L. A. Khalfin

David Fernández Jiménez, Andrés Felipe Guerrero Parra, N. G. Kelkar +1 more

The deviation of the decay law from the exponential is a well known effect of quantum mechanics . Here we analyze the relativistic survival probabilities , S ( t , p ) , where p is the momentum of the decaying particle and provide analytical expressions for S ( t , p ) in the exponential (E) as well as the nonexponential (NE) regions at small and large times. Under minimal assumptions on the spectral density function, analytical expressions for the critical times of transition from the NE to the E at small times and the E to NE at large times are derived. The dependence of the decay law on the relativistic Lorentz factor, γ = 1 / 1 − v 2 / c 2 , reveals several interesting features. In the short time regime of the decay law, the critical time, τ s t , shows a steady increase with γ , thus implying a larger NE region for particles decaying in flight. Comparing S ( t , p ) with the well known time dilation formula, e − Γ t / γ , in the exponential region, an expression for the critical γ where S ( t , p ) deviates most from e − Γ t / γ is presented. This is a purely quantum correction. Under particular conditions on the resonance parameters, there also exists a critical γ at large times which decides if the NE region shifts backward or forward in time as compared to that for a particle at rest. All the above analytical results are supported by calculations involving realistic decays of hadrons and leptons .

Pavel Exner

S. M. Wang, Witold Nazarewicz, Alexander Volya +1 more

The most important law of radioactivity is that of the exponential decay. In the realm of quantum mechanics, however, this decay law is neither rigorous nor fundamental. The deviations from the exponential decay have been observed experimentally at the early stage of a decay process, but there is little evidence for nonexponential behavior at long times. Yet such long-term nonexponentiality is expected theoretically to probe the nonresonant background components of the initial wave function which preserve the structural interference and the memory of how the state was created. In this paper, we propose new observables that can be used for experimental investigations of the post-exponential decay regime, including the decay of threshold resonances, particle correlations in three-body decays, and interference between near-lying resonances. While the specific examples presented in this work pertain to atomic nuclei, the properties of nonexponential decay are generic, i.e., they apply to other many-body open quantum systems, such as hadrons, atoms, molecules, and nanostructures.

Jan Mostowski, K. Wódkiewicz

An outline of the Wigner-Weisskopf theory of unstable states is presented. Numerical analysis of the decay law is given, deviations from the exponential decay law are studied in some detail. The interpretation of the nonexponential decay law is also briefly discussed. (auth)