Equations of Radioactive Decay and Growth

EXPONENTIAL DECA
!a"f Life# ou have seen $%e"oni& that a 'iven radioactive s(ecies decays accordin' to an
e)(onentia" "aw*

+
t
N N e
or

+
t
A Ae
, where N and A re(resent the nu-.er of
ato-s and the -easured activity, res(ective"y, at ti-e t, and N
+
and A
+
the
corres(ondin' quantities when t / +, and is the characteristic decay constant for the
s(ecies# The ha"f "ife 012
t
is the ti-e interva" required for N or A to fa"" fro- any
(articu"ar va"ue to one ha"f that va"ue# The ha"f "ife is convenient"y deter-ined fro- a
("ot of "o' A versus t when the necessary data are avai"a."e, and is re"ated to the
decay constant*


012
"n2 +#345
t
Avera'e Life# 6e -ay deter-ine the avera'e "ife e)(ectancy of the ato-s of a
radioactive s(ecies# This avera'e "ife is found fro- the su- of the ti-es of e)istence
of a"" the ato-s divided .y the initia" nu-.er# If we consider N to .e a very "ar'e
nu-.er, we -ay a((ro)i-ate this su- .y an equiva"ent inte'ra", findin' for the avera'e
"ife

t t
+ O O + + +
0 0 t 0 0
tdN tNdt te dt e
N N


+
1

1

]

6e see that the avera'e "ife is 'reater than the ha"f "ife .y the factor 01+#3457 the
difference arises .ecause of the wei'ht 'iven in the avera'in' (rocess to the fraction
of ato-s that .y chance survive for a "on' ti-e#
It -ay .e seen that durin' the ti-e 01 an activity wi"" .e reduced to 8ust 01e of its
initia" va"ue#
%i)tures of Inde(endent"y Decayin' Activities# If two radioactive s(ecies, denoted
.y su.scri(ts 0 and 2, are -i)ed to'ether, the o.served tota" activity is the su- of
the two se(arate activities* A / A
0
9 A
2
/ c
0

0
N
0
9 c
2

2
N
2
# The detection coefficients
c
0
and c
2
are .y no -eans necessari"y the sa-e and often are very different in
-a'nitude# In 'enera", A
0
A
2
A
5
:: A
n
for -i)tures of n s(ecies#
;or a -i)ture of severa" inde(endent activities the resu"t of ("ottin' "o' A versus t is
a"ways a curve concave u(ward $conve) toward the ori'in&# This curvature resu"ts
.ecause the shorter<"ived co-(onents .eco-e re"ative"y "ess si'nificant as ti-e
(asses# In fact, after sufficient ti-e the "on'est<"ived activity wi"" entire"y
(redo-inate, and its ha"f "ife -ay .e read fro- this "ate (ortion of the decay curve#
Now, if this "ast (ortion, which is a strai'ht "ine, is e)tra(o"ated .ac= to t / + and the
e)tra(o"ated "ine su.tracted fro- the ori'ina" curve, the residua" curve re(resents
the decay of a"" co-(onents e)ce(t the "on'est<"ived# This curve -ay .e treated a'ain
in the sa-e way, and in (rinci("e any co-("e) decay curve -ay .e ana"y>ed into its
co-(onents# In actua" (ractice e)(eri-enta" uncertainties in the o.served data -ay .e
e)(ected to -a=e it difficu"t to hand"e syste-s of -ore than three co-(onents, and
even two<co-(onent curves -ay not .e satisfactori"y reso"ved if the two ha"f "ives
differ .y "ess than a.out a factor of two# The curve shown in fi'ure 0 is for two
co-(onents with ha"f "ives differin' .y a factor of 0+#
Ti-e $h&
;i'ure 0< Ana"ysis of co-(osite decay curve* $a& co-(osite decay curve7 $.& "on'er<
"ived co-(onent $
012
t
/ ?#+ h&7 $c& shorter<"ived co-(onent $
012
t
/ +#? h&#
The reso"ution of a decay curve consistin' of two co-(onents of =nown .ut not very
different ha"f "ives is 'reat"y faci"itated .y the fo""owin' a((roach# The tota" activity
at ti-e t is

+
0 2
+ t + t
0 2
A A e A e
@y -u"ti("yin' .oth sides .y

0
t
e we o.tain
( )
+
0 2
t + +
0 2
A A A e
Aince A
0
and A
2
are =nown and A has .een -easured as a function of t, we can construct
a ("ot of

0
t
Ae versus
( )
0 2
t
e 7 this wi"" .e a strai'ht "ine with interce(t
+
0
A and s"o(e
+
2
A #
Least<squares ana"ysis is a -ore o.8ective -ethod for the reso"ution of co-("e) decay
curves than the 'ra(hica" ana"ysis descri.ed# Co-(uter (ro'ra-s for this ana"ysis have
.een deve"o(ed $B# @# Cu--in', CCLAD, The @roo=haven Decay<Curve Ana"ysis Pro'ra-,C
in A(("ication of Co-(uters to Nuc"ear and Radioche-istry $G# D# OEFe""y, Ed#&, NAA<
NRC, 6ashin'ton, 0435, (# 2G#& that 'ive va"ues of AH and its standard deviation for each
of the co-(onents# Ao-e of the (ro'ra-s can a"so .e used to search for the C.est
va"uesC of the decay constants#
Ca"cu"ate the wei'ht in 'ra-s w of 0 -Ci of
0I
C fro- its ha"f<"ife of GJ2+ years#
02 0
012
J
J
I
02
"n2 +, 345
5,?5 0+
GJ2+ 53G 2I 53++
0 5, J+ 0+
5#J 0+
2,2I 0+
5,?5 0+
) s
t ) ) )
dN
N
dt
-Ci ) d(s
A )
N ) '
)

Growth of radioactive (roducts
Genera" Equation# 6e considered .rief"y a s(ecia" case in which a radioactive dau'hter
su.stance was for-ed in the decay of the (arent# Let us ta=e u( the 'enera" case for
the decay of a radioactive s(ecies, denoted .y su.scri(t 0, to (roduce another
radioactive s(ecies, denoted .y su.scri(t 2#
The .ehavior of N
0
is 8ust as has .een derived7 that is,

0
0 0
dN
N
dt
and

0
+ t
0 0
N N e
where we use the sy-.o"
+
0
N to re(resent the va"ue of N
0
at t / +#
Now the second s(ecies is for-ed at the rate at which the first decays,

0 0
N
, and itse"f
decays at the rate

2 2
N
# Thus

2
0 0 2 2
dN
N N
dt

0
+ t 2
0 0 2 2
dN
N e N
dt

+
0
+ t 2
2 2 0 0
dN
N N e
dt
@y -u"ti("yin' .oth sides .y
2
t
e

*
( )
( )
+
2 0 2 2
t t t + 2
2 2 0 0
dN t
e N e N e
dt
what to .e rewritten*
( )
( )

2 0 2
t t +
2 0 0
d
N e N e
dt
Inte'ratin'*
( )

+

2 0 2
t t + 0
2 0
2 0
N e N e C

+

0 2
+ t t 0
2 0
2 0
N N e Ce
for t/+, N
2
/
+
2
N *

+

+ + 0
0 2
2 0
C N N
( )

+

0 2 2
+ t t + t 0
2 0 2
2 0
N N e e N e
$2&
The so"ution of +
2
0 0 2 2
dN
N N +
dt
this "inear differentia" equation of the first order
-ay .e o.tained .y standard -ethods and 'ives
( )
0 2 2
+ t t + t 0
2 0 2
2 0
N N e e N e

+

where
+
2
N is the va"ue of N
2
at t / +# Notice that the first 'rou( of ter-s shows the
'rowth of dau'hter fro- the (arent and the decay of these dau'hter ato-s7 the "ast
ter- 'ives the contri.ution at any ti-e fro- the dau'hter ato-s (resent initia""y#
Transient Equi"i.riu-#
In a(("yin' $2& to considerations of radioactive $(arent and dau'hter& (airs, we can
distin'uish two 'enera" cases, de(endin' on which of the two su.stances has the
"on'er ha"f "ife#
If the (arent is "on'er<"ived than the dau'hter $
0
K
2
&, a state of so<ca""ed radioactive
equi"i.riu- is reached7 that is, after a certain ti-e the ratio of the nu-.ers of ato-s
and, consequent"y, the ratio of the disinte'ration rates of (arent and dau'hter
.eco-e constant#
This can .e readi"y seen fro- $2&7 after t .eco-es sufficient"y "ar'e,

2
t
e is ne'"i'i."e
co-(ared with

0
t
e , and
2
+ t
2
N e

a"so .eco-es ne'"i'i."e7 then

0
+ t 0
2 0
2 0
N N e

and, since
0
+ t
0 0
N N e

The re"ation of the two -easured activities is found fro-

0 0 0 0
A c N
,
2 2 2 2
A c N
to
.e
( )
0 2 0 0
2 2 2
c A
A c

$I&
In the s(ecia" case of equa" detection coefficients $c
0
/c
2
& the ratio of the two
activities,
0 0
2 2
A
0
A

, -ay have any va"ue .etween + and 0, de(endin' on the ratio of

0
to
2
that is, in equi"i.riu- the dau'hter activity wi"" .e 'reater than the (arent
activity .y the factor
2
1$
2
L
0
&#
In equi"i.riu- .oth activities decay with the (arentEs ha"f "ife#
As a consequence of the condition of transient equi"i.riu- $
2
M
0
&, the su- of the (arent
and dau'hter disinte'ration rates in an initia""y (ure (arent fraction 'oes throu'h a
-a)i-u- .efore transient equi"i.riu- is achieved#
This situation is i""ustrated in fi'ure 2#
;i'ure 2 < Transient equi"i.riu-* $a& tota" activity of an initia""y (ure (arent fraction7 $.& activity
due to (arent $
012
t
/ ?#+ h&7 $c& decay of fresh"y iso"ated dau'hter fraction $
012
t
/ +#?+ h&7 $d&
dau'hter activity 'rowin' in fresh"y (urified (arent fraction7 $ e& tota" dau'hter activity in
(arent<("us<dau'hter fractions
The -ore 'enera" condition for the tota" -easured activity $A
0
9A
2
& of an initia""y (ure
(arent fraction to e)hi.it a -a)i-u- is found to .e c
2
1c
0
M
0
1
2
# This condition ho"ds
re'ard"ess of the re"ative -a'nitudes of
0
, and
2
# The
( )
2 0 2 0
2 0 2
c
c



condition
wi"" 'ive a -a)i-u- in the tota" -easured activity that occurs at a ne'ative ti-e#
Aecu"ar Equi "i .ri u-# A "i-itin' case of radioactive equi"i.riu- in which
0 2
=
and in
which the (arent activity does not decrease -easura."y durin' -any dau'hter ha"f "ives
is =nown as secu"ar equi"i.riu-#
Derive the equation as a usefu" a((ro)i-ation of $5&*
0 0
2 2
N
N

or
0 0 2 2
N N
In the sa-e way $I& reduces to
0 0
2 2
A c
A c

and the -easured activities are equa" if c

0
/c
2
#
;i'ure 2 (resents an e)a-("e of transient equi"i.riu- with
0 2
<
$actua""y with
0
1
2
/
+#0&7 the curves re(resent variations with ti-e of the (arent activity and the activity of
a fresh"y iso"ated dau'hter fraction, the 'rowth of dau'hter activity in a fresh"y
(urified (arent fraction, and other re"ations7 in (re(arin' the fi'ure we have ta=en
c
0
/c
2
#
;i'ure 5 is a si-i"ar ("ot for secu"ar equi"i.riu-7 it is a((arent that as
0
, .eco-es
s-a""er co-(ared to
2
the curves for transient equi"i.riu- shift to a((roach -ore
and -ore c"ose"y the "i-itin' case shown in fi'ure 5#
;i'ure 5 < Aecu"ar equi"i.riu-* $a& tota" activity of an initia""y (ure (arent fraction7 $.&
activity due to (arent $
012
t
&7 this is a"so the tota" dau'hter activity in (arent<("us<
dau'hter fractions7 $c& decay of fresh"y iso"ated dau'hter fraction $
012
+#? t h
&7 $d&
dau'hter activity 'rowin' in fresh"y (urified (arent fraction#
The Case of No Equi" i.riu-# If the (arent is shorter<"ived than the dau'hter $
0
M
2
&,
it is evident that no equi"i.riu- is attained at any ti-e# If the (arent is -ade initia""y
free of the dau'hter, then as the (arent decays the a-ount of dau'hter wi"" rise,
(ass throu'h a -a)i-u-, and eventua""y decay with the characteristic ha"f "ife of the
dau'hter# This is i""ustrated in fi'ure I7 for this ("ot we have ta=en
0
1
2
/ 0+, and c
0
/c
2
#
In the fi'ure the fina" e)(onentia" decay of the dau'hter is e)tra(o"ated .ac= to t/+#
;i'ure I < The case of no equi"i.riu-* $a& tota" activity7 $.& activity due to (arent $
012
+#? t h
&7 $c& e)tra(o"ation of fina" decay curve to ti-e >ero7 $d& dau'hter activity
in initia""y (ure (arent#
This -ethod of ana"ysis is usefu" if
0 2
?
, for then this interce(t -easures the
activity
+
2 2 0
c N the
+
0
N ato-s 'ive rise to N
2
ato-s so ear"y that
+
0
N -ay .e set equa" to
the e)tra(o"ated va"ue of N
2
at t / +# The ratio of the initia" activity
+
0 0 0
c N to this
e)tra(o"ated activity 'ives the ratios of the ha"f "ives if the re"ation .etween c
0
and c
2
is =nown*
0
+
2
0 0 0 0 0 2
+
2 2 0 2 2
0
2
0
t
c N c
)
c N c
t
_


,

_

,
If
2
is not ne'"i'i."e co-(ared to
0
, it can .e shown that the ratio
0
1
2
in this equation
shou"d .e re("aced .y
( )
0 2
2

and the e)(ression invo"vin' the ha"f "ives chan'ed

accordin'"y#
@oth the transient<equi"i.riu- and the no<equi"i.riu- cases are so-eti-es ana"y>ed in
ter-s of the ti-e t
-
for the dau'hter to reach its -a)i-u- activity when 'rowin' in
a fresh"y se(arated (arent fraction.
This ti-e we find fro- the 'enera" equation $2& .y differentiatin',
( ) ( )
0 2
2
+ t + t 2 0 0 2
0 0
2 0 2 0
dN
N e N e
dt


+

and settin'
2
dN
+
dt
when t / t
-
*
( )
2 0 -
t
2
0
e

or
2
-
2 0 0
0
t "n

At this ti-e the dau'hter decay rate
2 2
N
is 8ust equa" to the rate of for-ation
0 0
N
,
Nthis is o.vious fro- $0&O7 in fi'ures 2 and I, in which we assu-ed c
0
/c
2
, we have the
(arent activity A
0
intersectin' the dau'hter 'rowth curve d at the ti-e t
-
# $The ti-e
t
-
is infinite for secu"ar equi"i.riu-#&
%any Auccessive Decays# If we consider a chain of three or -ore radioactive
(roducts, it is c"ear that the equations a"ready derived for N
0
and N
2
as functions of
ti-e are va"id, and N
5
-ay .e found .y so"vin' the new differentia" equation*
This is entire"y ana"o'ous to the equation for
2
dN
dt
, .ut the so"ution ca""s for -ore "a.or, since N
2
is a -uch -ore co-("icated function
than N
P
# The ne)t so"ution for N
I
is sti"" -ore tedious# !# @ate-an $!# @ate-an#
CAo"ution of a Ayste- of Differentia" Equations Occurrin' in the Theory of Radio<active
Transfor-ations,C Proc# Ca-.rid'e Phi"# Aoc# IA, I25 $040+& has 'iven the so"ution for a
chain of n -e-.ers with the s(ecia" assu-(tion that at t / + the (arent su.stance
a"one is (resent, that is, that
+ + +
2 5
######## +
n
N N N
# This so"ution is
n 0 2
t t t
i 0 2 n
N C e C e #### C e

+ + +
where
( ) ( ) ( )
+ 0 2 n 0
0 0
2 0 5 0 n 0
###
C N
#####

( ) ( ) ( )
+ 0 2 n 0
2 0
0 2 5 2 n 2
###
C N
#####

############
5
2 2 5 5
dN
N N
dt
$G&
( ) ( ) ( )
+ 0 2 n 0
n 0
0 n 2 n n 0 n
###
C N
#####

If we do require a so"ution to the -ore 'enera" case with
+ + +
2 5 5
, ,########, + N N N
, we -ay
construct it .y addin' to the @ate-an so"ution for N
n
, in an n<-e-.ered chain a
@ate-an so"ution for N
n
in an $n<0&<-e-.ered chain with su.stance 2 as the (arent,
and, therefore,
+
2 2
N N at t / +, and a @ate-an so"ution for N
n
in an $n<2&<-e-.ered
chain, and so on#
@ranchin' Decay# The case of .ranchin' decay when a nuc"ide can decay .y -ore than
one -ode is i""ustrated .y
@
@

A
C

C
The two (artia" decay constants @

and C

-ust .e considered when the 'enera"

re"ations in either .ranch are studied .ecause, for e)a-("e, the su.stance @ is
for-ed at the rate
@
@ @
dN
N
dt

( )
A
@ A C
dN
N
dt
+
The nuc"ide A has on"y one ha"f "ife
0
t 2
+#345
t

where A
t
/ A
@
9 A
C
9 Q Q Q# @y definition the ha"f "ife is re"ated to the tota" rate of
disa((earance of a su.stance, re'ard"ess of the -echanis- .y which it disa((ears#
If the @ate-an so"ution is to .e a(("ied to a decay chain containin' .ranchin' decays,
the R s in the nu-erators of the equations definin' C
0
, C
2
, and so on, shou"d .e
re("aced .y the (artia" decay constants7 that is, Ai in the nu-erators shou"d .e
re("aced .y
S
i
, where
S
i
is the decay constant for the transfor-ation of the i
th
chain
-e-.er to the $i90&
th
-e-.er# If a decay chain .ranches, and su.sequent"y the two
.ranches are re8oined as in the natura" radioactive series, the two .ranches are
treated .y this -ethod as se(arate chains7 the (roduction of a co--on -e-.er
.eyond the .ranch (oint is the su- of the nu-.ers of ato-s for-ed .y the two (aths#
EDTATIONA O; TRANA;OR%ATION DTRING NTCLEAR REACTIONA
Ata."e Tar'ets# 6hen a tar'et is irradiated .y (artic"es that induce nuc"ear
reactions, a steady state can .e reached in which radioactive (roducts disinte'rate
.ut A is consu-ed at the rate
at 8ust the rate at which they are for-ed7 the situation is ana"o'ous to that of
secu"ar equi"i.riu-# If the irradiation is ter-inated .efore the steady state is
achieved, then the disinte'ration rate of a (articu"ar active nuc"ide is "ess than its
rate of for-ation R# The differentia" equation that 'overns the nu-.er of (roduct
ato-s N (resent at ti-e t durin' the irradiation is
dN
R N
dt

the so"ution to which is
t
N
R
0 e

;or very "ar'e irradiation ti-es $ TM M 0 1 & the disinte'ration rate N a((roaches the
saturation va"ue R# The factor $
t
0 e

& is often ca""ed the saturation factor# If the

disinte'ration rate of a (articu"ar radioactive (roduct at the end of a steady
.o-.ard-ent of =nown duration is divided .y this saturation factor, the rate at which
the (roduct was for-ed durin' the .o-.ard-ent is o.tained#
Occasiona""y a (roduct is for-ed durin' irradiation .oth direct"y .y nuc"ear reaction
and .y the decay of an active (arent that is (roduced .y another reaction Ne#'#, the
(roduct of a $(,(n& reaction, if unsta."e, -ay decay .y (ositron e-ission or EC into the
(roduct of the $(, 2(& reaction on the sa-e tar'etO# Tnder these circu-stances the
nu-.er of ato-s of the (roduct of interest (resent at a ti-e t, after the end of a
.o-.ard-ent of duration t
.
has three sources*
0# Those for-ed direct"y in nuc"ear reactions#
2# Those for-ed .y the decay of the (arent durin' .o-.ard-ent#
5# Those for-ed .y the decay of the (arent durin' the interva" t
.
$which -ay, for
e)a-("e, .e the ti-e .etween the end of .o-.ard-ent and the che-ica"
se(aration of dau'hter fro- (arent&#
If R
0
and R
2
are the rates of the nuc"ear reactions that direct"y for- the (arent and
dau'hter (roducts, res(ective"y, then the nu-.er of dau'hter ato-s $characteri>ed .y
su.scri(t 2& arisin' fro- each of the three sources is
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2 @ 2 A
2 @ 0 A 2 A 2 s
2 @ 0 A 2 A
t t E 2
2
2
t t t t EE 0 0
2
2 0 2
t t t
2
EEE
2
0 2
R
N 0 e e
R R
N 0 e e e e
R 0 e e e
N

1
+
1

]

E)(eri-enta""y it is, of course, on"y the tota"ity of the dau'hter ato-s
( )
E EE EEE
2 2 2
N N N + +
that is o.served, .ut fro- a =now"ed'e of the ti-es t
@
and t
s
the
decay constants
0

, and
2

, and of the rate of for-ation R

0
of the (arent $which
can .e deter-ined in a se(arate e)(eri-ent&, it is (ossi."e to ca"cu"ate R
2
#
Radioactive Tar'ets in a !i'h<;"u) Reactor# 6hen nuc"ear reactions are induced in a
radioactive nuc"ide, the rate of disa((earance of the su.stance is no "on'er 'overned
.y the "aw of radioactive transfor-ation a"one .ut .y a -odified "aw that ta=es into
account the disa((earance .y trans-utation reactions a"so# Tnder -ost (ractica"
.o-.ard-ent conditions the rate of transfor-ation of radioactive s(ecies .y nuc"ear
reactions is ne'"i'i."e co-(ared to the rate of radioactive decay# !owever, in the case
of "on'<"ived nuc"ides, and with the "ar'e neutron f"u)es avai"a."e in nuc"ear reactors,
transfor-ations .y .oth -echanis-s so-eti-es have to .e considered# 6e state the
-odified transfor-ation equations for the case of a neutron f"u)7 they are equa""y
a(("ica."e for any other .o-.ardin' (artic"e# The treat-ent 'iven here fo""ows that
deve"o(ed .y 6# Ru.inson #
Consider N ato-s of a sin'"e radioactive s(ecies of decay constant $in reci(roca"
seconds& and tota" neutron reaction cross section $in square centi-eters& in a
constant neutron f"u) nv $neutrons c-
<2
s
<0
&# The rate of radioactive transfor-ation is
N, the rate of transfor-ation .y neutron reactions is nvN, and the tota" rate of
disa((earance is
( )
dN
nv N N
dt
+ $0+&
where -ay .e considered as a -odified decay constant# Equation 0+ has the sa-e
for- as the standard differentia" equation of radioactive decay and is inte'rated to
'ive
+
t
N N e

$00&
If we consider a (arent<dau'hter (air, the (arent disa((ears .y .oth trans-utation
and decay* ( )
0
0 0 0 0 0
dN
nv N N
dt
+ 7 .ut the dau'hter 'rows .y decay of the -other
on"y and disa((ears .y .oth (rocesses*
2
0 0 2 2
dN
N N
dt
, or, in -ore 'enera" notation,
i 0
i i i 0 i 0
dN
N N
dt
+
+ +

Actua""y we -ay want to consider chains in which the transfor-ation fro- one -e-.er
to the ne)t -ay occur .y nuc"ear reaction as we"" as .y radioactive decay# Then A,
-ust .e re("aced .y a -odified decay constant
S S S
i i i
nv + , where the asteris=s
serve as a re-inder that, if either the decay or reaction of the (arent does not a"ways
"ead to the ne)t chain -e-.er, then
S
i
-ust .e the (artia" decay constant and
S
i

-ust .e the (artia" reaction cross section "eadin' fro- the i

th
-e-.er to the $i90&th
-e-.er of the chain# 6ith this notation the 'enera" so"ution is written, as in the
@ate-an equations, for
+ + +
2 5
######## +
n
N N N
*
n 0 2
t t t
i 0 2 n
N C e C e #### C e

+ + + $02&
where
( ) ( ) ( )
+ 0 2 n 0
0 0
2 0 5 0 n 0
###
C N
#####

( ) ( ) ( )
+ 0 2 n 0
2 0
0 2 5 2 n 2
###
C N
#####

and so on#
The nu-erica" va"ues to .e su.stituted are
t / 0#+?)"+
G
s,
nv/0#)0+
0I
c-
<2
s
<0
04J

/ 4#4)0+
25
c-
2
04?

/ 2#G)0+
2+
c-
2
25
+ 20
04J
0)3#+2)0+
N 5#+G)0+
04J

Tsin' these va"ues, we 'et
( )
+#++0+J +#G4I +#2JG
J
044 3 3 3 3 3 3
J 0+ 0+ 00 0J
044
e e e
N J#?G)0+
G#G)0+ )2#GG)0+ G#G)0+ )2#4G)0+ 2#GG)0+ )2#4G)0+
N J#GG)0+ J#02)0+ 5#I+)0+ 0#+0)0+ 5#2)0+


1
+
1
]
+
The disinte'ration rate of
044
Au at the end of the irradiation is
02 0
044 044
N +#?2)0+ s

# ;or
co-(arison we co-(ute the disinte'ration rate of
04?
Au in the sa-("e Na'ain fro- $02& for a
two<-e-.ered chainO*
04J 04?
t t
+ J 02 0
04? 04? 04? 04J 04J
3
04? 04? 04J 04?
e e +#444 +#G22
N nv N 4#+3)0+ ) J#53)0+ s
G#G)0+

_

+


,
Thus a.out 0+ (ercent of the radioactive disinte'rations in the sa-("e occur in
044
Au#

As an i""ustration, we co-(ute the a-ount of 5#0G d
044
Au for-ed .y two successive $n,&
S 4 0
04J 04J 04J
nv 4#4)0+ s