Decay rate changes in radioactive gamma emission as affected by 18 MeV proton cyclotron

Abstract

Previous efforts to investigate changes in the decay constants of radioactive nuclides discovered that solar flares can temporarily alter radioactive decay rates. Thus, discerning whether external factors affect radioactive decay rates is vital for understanding nuclear processes. This study sought to explore the effect of neutrinos on radioactive nuclei by constructing a gamma radiation detection system that employs a radioactive source in front of a neutrino emission system. Responding to cyclotron operations, each of the four detection systems registered gamma count rate decreases. The results of this study confirm that rises in neutrino flux affected the decay rates of the examined radioactive nuclides. Here we provide significant evidence that neutrinos affect the radioactive decay process. Neutrino detection is challenging due to the minuscule absorption in a stable nucleus. However, the study found a greater probability of radionuclides interaction with the neutrino.