DECAY MODE INSTRUCTIONS


SELECTOR BOX in DECAY MODE


In the program !Isotopes (not here in !IsotopeInfo) the Segre Chart display mode is changed using the available options in the SELECTOR BOX. For further Information on all the available display modes as shown above, see the HELP MANUAL FOR !ISOTOPES. The display mode shown here is the (default) DECAY MODE.

COLOUR CODE

EMITTED PARTICLE/DECAY MODE
The isotopes are colour coded according to which particles they emit, rather than by their decay mode(s). A single isotope may emit more than just one particle, and may also decay by more than one decay route. A key in the corner shows the following:

Switch on your Images
EMITTED PARTICLE DECAY MODE COLOUR CODE
Switch on your Images (stable)
Switch on your Images alpha particle (helium nucleus)
Switch on your Images proton
Switch on your Images (electron capture)
Switch on your Images positron (anti-electron) [inv Beta decay]
Switch on your Images electron [Beta decay]
Switch on your Images neutron
Switch on your Images spontaneous fission (with neutrons)
Switch on your Images metastable state that decays by SF (fertile isomer)
Switch on your Images metastable state that decays by internal transition (IT) [gamma]
Switch on your Images metastable state that decays by alpha, B+ or B- (by a route as shown by the colour code within the ring)
Switch on your Images (ephemeral) extremely short halflife

As a reminder, all nuclear decays are usually accompanied by incidental gamma rays, not shown in the chart.

It is important to realise that the colour coded decay modes in this chart are derived entirely from the decay modes data and NOT from the atomic mass data, as used in the charts of HIGHEST BINDING ENERGY or LEAST MASS ISOBARS (L H S STAB or Z A N BEmax display modes). That is, the decays shown are actual observed decay modes. Some theoretically possible decay modes are not shown here because of their very low probability of occurance, or because they are overwhelmed by other decay modes.

This is also true of the RELATIVE MASS chart. The decays shown by arrows on this chart are derived from the decay data only, and not from the mass data. However, when the program is switched to any other mode display other than DECAY MODE, then the decay arrows depicted are derived from the MASS data, and not from the decay data.