Question

Is positron decay exponential?

Answer 1

Positron decay is an exponential process.

During radioactive decay, an unstable nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing radiation.

This radiation includes energetic alpha particles, beta particles (electrons and positrons), and gamma rays.

In any radioactive decay, it is impossible to predict when a particular atom will decay. The chance that a given atom will decay is constant over time.

Positron emission therefore follows the exponential rule for radioactive decay:

`N = N_0e^(-kt)`