A note on a functional equation model of decay processes: analysis and consequences

Abstract

AbstractIt is known that many physical systems undergoing (nuclear, atomic, etc.) decay do not obey the standard decreasing exponential formula which corresponds to the solution of a first-order, linear ODE having constant coefficients. We propose and solve a new functional equation mathematical model whose solutions are consistent with current experimental data. The basis of our functional representation is centred on the critical role played by the concept of the decay half-life.Keywords: Exponential decaynon-exponential decaylinear functional equationsquantum mechanicsMathematics Subject Classification: 34-06 AcknowledgmentsDr. Ronald E. Mickens (REM) wishes to thank Dr. Pedro Jordan, Stennis Space Center, MI, for many useful discussions on mathematical modelling. Both REM and SAR acknowledge the critical help of Imani Beverly and Bryan Briones, Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library, in locating and reproducing various publications required for this investigation.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).