Document Type
Article
Department
Physics
Publication Date
2000
Abstract
The number of decays from four distinct nuclear disintegration processes were recorded over a long succession of counting intervals, converted into sequences of binary outcomes based on parity, and examined as a discrete two-state Markov process. The difference in single-step transition probabilities was found to be null to within an uncertainty of order 10−3, supporting the proposition that quantum particles decay at random unaffected by their past history.
Publication Title
Physics Letters A
Volume
272
Issue
1-2
DOI
10.1016/S0375-9601(00)00374-1
Comments
Author's accepted manuscript provided in accordance with publisher's distribution policy. Published as
M.P Silverman, W Strange, "Experimental tests for randomness of quantum decay examined as a Markov process" Physics Letters A, Volume 272, Issues 1–2, 2000, Pages 1-9.