The Net Advance of Physics:
VARIABILITY OF NUCLEAR DECAY RATES

Last update: 2018 September 27

• Review papers:
  • Anomalies in radioactive decay rates: A bibliography of measurements and theory by M. H. McDuffie et al. [2020/12]

• Research papers: General:
  • Is Radioactive Decay Really Exponential? by Philip J. Aston [Europhysics Letters 97, 52001 (2012)] Proposes an experimental test.
  • Sensitivity of astrophysical reaction rates to nuclear uncertainties by Thomas Rauscher [2012/05]
  • A Precision Experiment to Investigate Long-Lived Radioactive Decays by J. R. Angevaare et al. [Journal of Instrumentation 13, P0711 (2018)]
  • Electromagnetic-radiation effects on alpha decay by Marian Apostol [2018/09]
  • Quantum Decay Law: Critical Times and the Equivalence of Approaches by D. F. Ramírez Jiménez and Neelima G. Kelkar [2018/09]

• Research papers: PERIODIC VARIATIONS: SCALE OF SECONDS:
  • GSI K-Capture Anomaly:
    • Measurement of the beta+ and orbital electron-capture decay rates in fully-ionized, hydrogen-like, and helium-like 140Pr ions by Yu. A. Litvinov et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 262501 (2007)]
    • Observation of Non-Exponential Orbital Electron Capture Decays of Hydrogen-Like 140Pr and 142Pm Ions by Yu. A. Litvinov et al. [2008/01]
    • On the time-modulation of the K-shell electron capture decay of H-like 140Pr58+ ions produced by neutrino-flavour mixing by A. N. Ivanov et al. [2008/01]
      • Oscillations in the GSI electron capture experiment by H. Burkhardt et al. [2008/04] Meant to refute Ivanov.
    • Kinematics and Quantum Field Theory of the Neutrino Oscillations Observed in the Time-modulated Orbital Electron Capture Decay in an Ion Storage Ring by Manfried Faber [2008/01]
    • New method for studying neutrino mixing and mass differences by Harry J. Lipkin [2008/03]
      • Comment on the Neutrino-Mixing Interpretation of the GSI Time Anomaly by Carlo Giunti [2008/03] Meant to refute Lipkin.
      • Reply [to Giunti] by A. N. Ivanov et al. [2008/03]
      • Comment by Murray Peshkin [2008/04] Meant to refute Lipkin.
      • The GSI method for studying neutrino mass differences - For Pedestrians by Harry J. Lipkin [2008/05]
      • Comment by Murray Peshkin [2008/11] "Quantum mechanics allows no such interference" (as that postulated by Lipkin).
      • The GSI Time Anomaly: Facts and Fiction by Carlo Giunti [2009/03] Against neutrino-mixing explanation, for quantum beats.
      • Comment by V. V. Flambaum [2009/08] Disagrees with Lipkin.
    • Neutrino-Pulsating Vacuum and Neutrino Mass Difference by H. Kleinert and P. Kienle [2008/03]
    • Neutrino masses from the Darmstadt oscillations by A. N. Ivanov et al. [2008/04]
      • GSI Oscillations as Laboratory for Testing of New Physics by A. N. Ivanov and P. Kienle [2013/12]
    • Rates of Processes with Coherent Production of Different Particles and the GSI Time Anomaly by Carlo Giunti [Phys. Lett. B 665, 92 (2008)] Against neutrino oscillations as explanation; suggests quantum beats between energy levels of decaying ion instead.
      • Comment by A. N. Ivanov et al. [2008/07]
      • The GSI anomaly by Hendrik Kienert et al. [2008/08] Against neutrino oscillations as explanation; postulates an internal excitation.
      • The GSI Time Anomaly: Facts and Fiction by Carlo Giunti [2008/09]
      • Can the "Darmstadt oscillations" be treated as two closely spaced mass-eigenstates of the H-like mother ions? by M. Faber et al. [2008/11] The authors answer in the negative.
      • The GSI Time Anomaly: Facts and Fiction by Carlo Giunti [2009/03] Against neutrino-mixing explanation, for quantum beats.
    • New interactions: past and future experiments by Michele Maltoni [2008/05] Meaning interactions involving neutrinos.
    • On the Time-Modulation of the Beta-Decay Rate of H-like 140Pr58+ Ion by A. N. Ivanov et al. [2008/06]
    • Search for Oscillation of the Electron-Capture Decay Probability of 142Pm by Paul A. Vetter et al. [2008/07] Observed no oscillatory modulation.
      • Comment by Yu. A. Litvinov et al. [2008/07]
    • Could the GSI Oscillations be Observed in a Standard Electron Capture Decay Experiment? by Thomas Faestermann et al. [2008/07] Despite the misleading title, this is an experimental paper, reporting that a conventional (as opposed to storage-ring) K-capture experiment saw no oscillations.
    • Theoretical Overview of Neutrino Properties by Zhi-Zhong Xing [2008/07] With remark on GSI anomaly.
    • Neutrinos do not oscillate yet at GSI by Avraham Gal [2008/08] ... and when they do, it will be on scale of milliseconds.
      • Time Modulation of Orbital Electron Capture Decays of H-like Heavy Ions by A. N. Ivanov and P. Kienle [2009/09] Defending neutrino-oscillation explanation.
      • Neutrino magnetic moment effects in electron-capture measurements at GSI by Avraham Gal [2010/04]
    • Spin-rotation coupling in non-exponential decay of hydrogenlike heavy ions by Gaetano Lambiase et al. [2008/11] A model based on Thomas precession.
      • Comment by V. V. Flambaum [2009/08] Disagrees.
    • Why a splitting in the final state cannot explain the GSI-Oscillations by Alexander Merle [2009/07]
    • On the time modulation of the K-shell electron capture decay rates of H-like heavy ions at GSI experiments by A. N. Ivanov and P. Kienle [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 062502 (2009)] "We show that these data can be explained in terms of the interference of two massive neutrino mass-eigenstates."
      • Comment by V. V. Flambaum [2009/08] Disagrees.
      • Reply by A. N. Ivanov and P. Kienle [2009/09]
    • Quantum-Mechanics of nu and GSI oscillations for pedestrians: Relativistic quantum field theory is useless by Harry J. Lipkin [2010/03]
    • The GSI oscillation mystery by Alexander Merle [Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics 64, 445 (2010)] "We discuss the physics involved using a comparison with pion decay, and explain why the observed oscillations cannot be caused by standard neutrino mixing."
    • Is the GSI anomaly due to neutrino oscillations? - A real time perspective by Jun Wu et al. [2010/06] A model.
    • Oscillations in the decay law: a possible quantum mechanical explanation of the GSI anomaly? by Francesco Giacosa and Giuseppe Pagliara [2011/10]
    • (Oscillating) non-exponential decays of unstable states by Francesco Giacosa and Giuseppe Pagliara [2012/01]
    • GSI anomaly and spin-rotation coupling by Gaetano Lambiase et al. [2012/05]
      • Comment on a recent attempt to explain the 'GSI anomaly' by initial-state e.m. spin-rotation coupling by Avraham Gal [2013/02]
    • Decay Oscillations in Electron Capture and the Neutrino Mass Difference by Murray Peshkin [2014/03]
      • GSI Oscillations as Interference of Neutrino Flavour Mass--Eigenstates and Measuring Process by A. N. Ivanov and P. Kienle [2014/06]
    • Neutrino signals in GSI two-body EC rates by Avraham Gal [2014/07]
    • Decay Law of Relativistic Particles: Quantum Theory Meets Special Relativity by Krzysztof Urbanowski [2014/08]
    • Oscillating Decay Rate in Electron Capture and the Neutrino Mass Difference by Murray Peshkin [2014/09]
    • Properties of decaying particles: "GSI anomaly" like effects by Krzysztof Urbanowski [2015/06]
    • Non-exponential and oscillatory decays in quantum mechanics by Murray Peshkin et al. [2017/03]
    • Breit-Wigner distribution, quantum beats and GSI Anomaly by M. S. Hosseini et al. [2017/04]

• Research papers: PERIODIC VARIATIONS: SCALE OF DAYS OR YEARS:
  • Evidence for Solar Influences on Nuclear Decay Rates by Ephraim Fischbach et al. [2010/07] Presents evidence of a fluctuation tied to the Rieger periodicity.
  • Half-life of 32Si by D. E. Alburger et al. [Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 78, 168 (1986)] Observed an unexplained annual variation in the ratio of silicon-32 to chlorine-36.
  • Evidence for Correlations Between Nuclear Decay Rates and Earth-Sun Distance by Jere H. Jenkins et al. [Astroparticle Physics 32, 42 (2009)]
  • Searching for modifications to the exponential radioactive decay law with the Cassini spacecraft by Peter S. Cooper [Astroparticle Physics 31, 267 (2009)] ... and finding none.
  • Evidence against correlations between nuclear decay rates and Earth-Sun distance by Eric B. Norman et al. [Astroparticle Physics 31, 135 (2009)]
  • Analysis of environmental influences in nuclear half-life measurements exhibiting time-dependent decay rates by Jere H. Jenkins et al. [Nucl. Inst. & Meth. in Phys. Res. A620, 332 (2010)] The reported effects are too large to be explained by variations in sensitivity of detectors.
  • Variations of decay rates of radio-active elements and their connections with global anisotropy of physical space by Yu. A. Baurov and I. F. Malov [2010/01] with references to earlier (published) papers by the same authors.
  • Researches of alpha and beta radioactivity at long-term observations by A. V. Parkhomov [2010/04] Reports monthly and yearly periodicities in data collected over thirteen years.
  • Evidence for Solar Influences on Nuclear Decay Rates by Ephraim Fischbach et al. [2010/07] Presents evidence of a fluctuation tied to the Rieger periodicity.
    • Further Evidence Suggestive of a Solar Influence on Nuclear Decay Rates by Peter A. Sturrock et al. [2011/05]
  • Evidence for Time-Varying Nuclear Decay Rates: Experimental Results and Their Implications for New Physics by Ephraim Fischbach et al. [2011/03]
    • Do radioactive half-lives vary with the Earth-to-Sun distance? by J. C. Hardy et al. [2011/08] Not in the case of gold-198, according to this group's observations.
  • Analysis of Experiments Exhibiting Time-Varying Nuclear Decay Rates: Systematic Effects or New Physics? by Jere H. Jenkins et al. [2011/06] New physics, solar influence.
  • Concerning the Phases of Annual Variations of Nuclear Decay Rates by Peter A. Sturrock et al. [2011/06] Argue that there is a solar north-south asymmetry in the "unknown solar radiation" causing the decay-rate anomaly.
  • Search for the time dependence of the 137Cs decay constant by E. Bellotti et al. [2012/02] Annual periodicity excluded at 95% confidence level.
  • Searches for solar-influenced radioactive decay anomalies using Spacecraft RTGs by Dennis E. Krause et al. [2012/05]
  • Additional experimental evidence for a solar influence on nuclear decay rates by Jere H. Jenkins et al. [2012/07]
  • The Case for a Solar Influence on Certain Nuclear Decay Rates by Peter Sturrock et al. [2012/07]
  • Additional experimental evidence against a solar influence on nuclear decay rates by Eric B. Norman [2012/08] "Conflicting results from two experiments studying the decay of Cl-36 point to instrumental artifacts ..."
    • Concerning the Phase of the Time-Variation in the Cl-36 Decay Rate by Ephraim Fischbach et al. [2012/10] On the contrary, they point to "solar variability beyond the simple Earth-Sun distance model".
  • Time-Varying Nuclear Decay Parameters and Dark Matter by Jonathan Nistor et al. [2013/06] Could the annual signal attributed to dark matter by the DAMA collaboration be a nuclear time-dependent effect instead?
  • Disproof of solar influence on the decay rates of 90Sr/90Y by Karsten Kossert and Ole Nähle [2014/07]
    • Analysis of Beta-Decay Rates for Ag108, Ba133, Eu152, Eu154, Kr85, Ra226 and Sr90, Measured at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt from 1990 to 1996 by Peter A. Sturrock et al. [2014/08]
    • Analysis of beta-decay data acquired at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt: evidence of a solar influence by Peter Sturrock et al. [2016/05]
  • Results of a search for daily and annual variations of the Po-214 half-life at the two year observation period by E. N. Alexeyev et al. [2015/02]
  • Concerning the variability of beta-decay measurements by Peter A. Sturrock et al. [2015/10] "Variability of beta-decay rates may be due to (a) environmental influences, (b) solar neutrinos, and (c) cosmic neutrinos."
  • Search for Possible Solar Influences in Ra-226 Decays by Daniel D. Stancil et al. [2017/01]
  • Analysis of Ten Years of Radon-Chain Decay Measurements: Evidence of Solar Influences and Inferences Concerning Solar Internal Structure and the Role of Neutrinos by Peter A. Sturrock et al. [2017/05]
  • Search for time modulations in the decay constant of 40K and 226Ra at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory by E. Bellotti et al. [2018/02]
  • An Oscillation Evident in Both Solar Neutrino Data and Radon Decay Data by Peter A. Sturrock et al. [2019/07]

• Research papers: NON-PERIODIC VARIATIONS:
  • General:
    • Non-Poisson distributions observed during counting of certain carbon-14-labeled organic (sub)monolayers by John Lynde Anderson [J. Phys. Chem. 76, 3603 (1972)]
    • Is it possible to stimulate nuclear alpha decay by superfluid helium? by A. L. Barabanov [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 092501 (2009)] Theoretical paper.
    • Search for the time dependence of the 137Cs decay constant by E. Bellotti et al. [2012/02] None found.
    • Constraining spacetime variations of nuclear decay rates from light curves of type Ia supernovae by Ivan Karpikov et al. [2015/01]
    • Neutrino induced decoherence and variation in nuclear decay rates by Douglas Singleton et al. [Physics Letters A 379, 941 (2015)]
    • Signature of nonexponential nuclear decay by R. N. Manchester [2015/02]

  • Of Cosmic Origin:
    • Interpretation of cold nuclear fusion by means of erzion catalysis by Yu. N. Bazhutov et al. [Fiz. Plazmy Nekotor. Vopr. Obshch. Fiz. M., 67 (1990)] "Erzions" are hypothetical heavy particles resembling muons.
    • New interactions: past and future experiments by Michele Maltoni [2008/05] Meaning interactions involving neutrinos.
    • Perturbation of Nuclear Decay Rates During the Solar Flare of 13 December 2006 by Jere H. Jenkins and Ephraim Fischbach [Astroparticle Physics 31, 407 (2009)]
      • Implications for C-14 Dating of the Jenkins-Fischbach Effect and Possible Fluctuation of the Solar Fusion Rate by Alvin J. Sanders [2008/08]
      • Effect of radioactivity decrease. Is there a link with solar flares? by A. G. Parkhomov [2010/06] His data shows variations of count rate, but does not confirm solar link.
      • Study of the dependence of 198Au half-life on source geometry by R. M. Lindstrom et al. [2010/06] If solar neutrinos or other solar radiation influence the decay rate, the shape of sample should matter. Paper reports an experiment to set limits on this effect. [Nucl. Inst. & Meth. in Phys. Res. A 622, 93 (2010)]
      • Search for correlations between solar flares and decay rate of radioactive nuclei by E. Bellotti et al. [2013/02] No correlation seen.
      • NU-SETI: A Proposal to Detect Extra-Terrestrial Signals Carried by Neutrinos by Ephraim Fischbach and John T. Gruenwald [2017/02] In part by monitoring nuclear decay rates.
    • Concerning the variability of beta-decay measurements by Peter A. Sturrock et al. [2015/10] "Variability of beta-decay rates may be due to (a) environmental influences, (b) solar neutrinos, and (c) cosmic neutrinos."
    • No correlation between solar flares and the decay rate of several beta-decaying isotopes by J. R. Angevaare et al. [2018/06]
    • Test of nuclear-decay-rate variation due to an antineutrino flux by S.-C. Liu et al. [2021/11]

THE NET ADVANCE OF PHYSICS