Nuclear & Particle Physics
4 terms
Radioactive Decay
Nuclear & Particle Physics
Bq (Bequerels = decays/s) or Ci (Curies)
The spontaneous process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing radiation (particles or electromagnetic rays).
N(t) = N₀ e^(-λ t), A(t) = λ N(t)
Radioactive Tracer
Nuclear & Particle Physics
MBq or mCi (Administered Activity)
A chemical compound containing a radioisotope used to trace chemical or biological pathways through living organisms or industrial systems.
A(t) = A₀ e^(-λ t) (Short half-life diagnostic radiopharmaceutical)
Radiocarbon Dating
Nuclear & Particle Physics
Years Before Present (BP)
A radiometric dating method that measures the residual decay activity of Carbon-14 in organic materials to determine their age up to ~50,000 years.
t = -(t_½ / ln 2) ln(A(t) / A₀), t_½ = 5730 years
Renormalization
Nuclear & Particle Physics
Theoretical Technique
A mathematical technique in quantum field theory used to handle divergent infinite loop integrals by re-expressing parameters in terms of observed physical values.
m_obs = m_bare + δm, e_obs = e_bare + δe