=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-2763/CPT2020_paper_s1-1
|storemode=property
|title=On external influences on the radioactive decay rate fluctuations
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2763/CPT2020_paper_s1-1.pdf
|volume=Vol-2763
|authors=Victor A. Panchelyuga,Maria S. Panchelyuga,Olga Yu. Seraya
}}
==On external influences on the radioactive decay rate fluctuations==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2763/CPT2020_paper_s1-1.pdf
On external influences on the radioactive decay rate fluctuations
Victor A. Panchelyuga, Maria S. Panchelyuga, Olga Yu. Seraya
victor.panchelyuga@gmail.com
Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of Russian Academy of Science, Pushchino, Russia
The evolution of views on the possibility of external influence on the process of radioactive decay is briefly presented. Such an effect
can lead to the appearance of periods in the time series of the radioactive decay rate fluctuations, which have been the subject of
intensive study in the last decade. Two mechanisms for identifying periods are considered: the study of deviations from the theoretical
curve of the radioactive decay law and the study of the properties of fluctuations. It is shown that the latter method leads to a universal
spectrum of periods observed not only in the time series of the radioactive decay rate fluctuations, but also in the time series of
fluctuations of processes of various nature. The main object of our study are periods in the radioactive decay rate fluctuations. The
presence of such periods suggests the possibility of external influence on the process of radioactive decay. Therefore, we briefly consider
the evolution of views on the possibility of such an effect. To do this, we distinguish several stages. The division into stages is only
partially historical, but, mainly, each stage characterizes a certain ideas that is implemented in it.
Key words: radioactive decay; fluctuations; local fractal analysis; all permutations method.
The negative results of Rutherford’s experiments on
1. Introduction the effect on the radioactive decay rate have consolidated
The first stage begins almost from the discovery of the opinion that radioactive decay, in terms of its
radioactivity by A. Becquerel in 1896. Since that time, instantaneous values, is a random and unpredictable
attempts of external influences on the radioactive decay process. This “random face” of radioactive decay is shown
rate have been made. As an example of such studies of that in fig.1 and given by expression (2). On the other hand, if
time, one can take Rutherford experiment [1], in which a we determine with high accuracy the mean values of the
certain amount of radioactive gas of radon was contained radioactive decay rate, then it can serve as an analogue of
in a high pressure vessel with smokeless powder. ultra-stable clocks whose course is determined only by the
Estimates show that at the moment of detonation of the decay constant λ, which does not depend on any external
explosive, the maximum temperature in the vessel reached influences, as follows from (1), and is shown in Fig. 1a).
2500 °C and a pressure of about 1000 atm. Under these
conditions, the gamma activity of the radon remained
unchanged. Finally, the results of such studies led to the
conclusion that the rate of radioactive decay is constant
under any conditions [2].
Studies of radon activity allowed Rutherford to obtain
the basic law of radioactive decay [3]:
N (t ) = N 0 e − λt (1)
where N0 is the number of radioactive nuclei at an arbitrary
initial moment t = 0, λ is the radioactive decay constant
(characterizes the probability of one atom decay in one
second). This law is valid only for the statistical mean and
in the case of a large number of atoms in the radioactive
isotope under examination. Fig. 1a) shows dependence (1).
As can be seen from the figure, this is a smooth curve,
which is completely determined by expression (1). The
only parameter, on which the shape of the curve depends,
is the decay constant λ, a constant which characterizes a
given isotope.
However, in reality, the results of successive
measurements of the radioactive decay rate, looks like in
fig. 1b). These are random fluctuations. Each point of the
curve in fig. 1a) is the mean calculated on the basis of the
time series segment similar to that shown in fig. 1b).
The probability to detect the decay of n particles from
the total number N of radioactive nuclei is:
( N λt )n (2)
= ωn exp(− N λt )
n!
Expression (2) is the Poisson distribution well known from Fig. 1. Two “faces” of radioactive decay: a deterministic, ultra-
statistics. As one can see, this statistical model lacks stable process, a); a noise-like process, the instantaneous values
physical parameters that could describe an external of which are random and unpredictable, b). In fact, b) is a
influence. microscopic, local part of curve a)
Copyright © 2020 for this paper by its authors. Use permitted under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY
4.0)
2. "Deformation" of the electron shell and the stage, searching for the periods, study the deviations from
radioactive decay rate the radioactive decay curve, fig.1a). That is, the studied
‘signal’ is the difference between the theoretical curve (1)
The description of radioactive decay on the basis of (1)
and the correspondingly averaged experimental time
and (2), despite the fact that it was created in the initial
series. Subsequently, such time series of the differences
period of the study of radioactivity, was included in most
are examined for the presence of periods by various
university textbooks, became the basis and, mainly, the
methods of spectral and correlation analysis.
only content, of the modern educational standard. At that,
One of the first studies in this direction was a series of
the authors usually emphasize that radioactive decay is a
works [7-8], in which variations in the decay rate of 14С
fundamentally statistical phenomenon, and that
and tritium with annual periods were found, as well as a
“Experiments with radioactive substances have shown that
noticeable effect of geomagnetic disturbances (strong
no external conditions (heating to high temperatures,
magnetic storms). Also in [7], cyclical changes in the
magnetic and electric fields, high pressures) can affect the
average and dispersion values of the decay rate of the
nature and decay rate” [4, p. 92]. That is, the possibility, at
measured tritium standard with periods of about 60
least hypothetical, of an external influence on the
minutes and 3 hours were found. The authors emphasize
radioactive decay rate is completely excluded.
that the amplitudes of the periods increase at low values of
It is necessary to note that the first stage considered
geomagnetic activity.
above is a pre-quantum one. The appearance and
Perhaps, the most systematic study of periods in long-
development of quantum mechanics marks the second
term series of the radioactive decay rate was carried out in
stage, which begins in the post-war period and is
the works of A.G. Parkhomov, started back in the 1990s
characterized by the creation of quantum-mechanical
and resulted by 2004 with convincing experimental
models of nuclear phenomena. Due to this, it was shown
evidence of the presence of various periods from diurnal
that various effects on the electron shell (superstrong
to annual in β-radioactivity [9]. His studies are
magnetic fields, pressure, changes in the chemical
summarized in monograph [10].
environment, degree of atomic ionization) leading to its Based on the work of A.G. Parkhomov and other authors
changes or ‘deformations’ can affect the radioactive decay one can conclude that annual and seasonal periods usually
rate. have relative amplitudes of ~ 10-1…10-3, while the amplitudes
The findings of the aforementioned models were of the monthly and daily periods are ~ 10-3…10-5.
confirmed by numerous, carefully performed experiments. The annual period was also found in [11], where long-
As an example is work [5], in which the process of β-decay term series of the decay rate of the 226Ra isotope (record
of fully ionized 187Re was studied. Full ionization reduced length 15 years), measured in Physikalisch-Technische
the half-life by 109 times (4.2⋅1010 years for a neutral atom Bundesanstalt (PTB) and 32Si (record length - 4 years),
and 33 years for a fully ionized one). In the case of α- measured in Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL),
decay, the α-particle birth probability in the nucleus is were analyzed. In addition to the annual period, it was also
associated with the problem of tunneling through the found that cyclical changes in the activity of 226Ra and 32Si
barrier. It was shown [6] that the permeability of a barrier correlate with a value of 1/R2, where R is the Earth-Sun
depends on an electron shell. Therefore, by influencing the distance, and demonstrate synchronism in the coincident
electron shell, one can change the rate of α-decay. Thus, part of the BNL and PTB time series.
the Rutherford taboo on the possibility of influencing the Although the works of E. Fischbach are not pioneering
rate of radioactive decay was canceled at the second stage. (the annual period was discussed, for example, in [9]), they
Summing up, it can be noted that the second stage is were destined to attract and, to some extent, change the
characterized by the creation of theoretical models that world scientific opinion regarding the possibility of the
demonstrate the possibility of influencing the rate of existence of the abovementioned periods. Possibly, due to
radioactive decay through a change in the state of the these works, the topics related to periods in the radioactive
electron shell of an atom. The conclusions of these models decay rate are actively discussed on the pages of
are confirmed by numerous experiments. There are many international physics journals. To date, the number of such
works on this topic that are published in leading world publications is in the hundreds.
physical journals. Summarizing this section, we can conclude that the
presence of periods may indicate the presence of some
3. Periods in time series of the radioactive unidentified, presumably very weak external influence
decay rate that affects the radioactive decay rate. At present,
In contrast to the second stage, where the characteristic mechanisms of such influence can be only hypothesized.
energy of the impact on the radioactive isotopes, is much 4. Periods in the time series of the radioactive
less than the Coulomb barrier, but still very significant, in decay rate fluctuations
the third stage, as a rule, this energy is close to zero. In this
case, both the isotope and the recording equipment are As noted in the previous section, in almost all the
shielded from any external influences, which are usually works of the third stage, where periods from the day-year
of geophysical origin (temperature, pressure, humidity, range were found, classical methods of spectral and
etc). correlation analysis are used. This is due to the fact that
It is very interesting that in such undisturbed time the object of study in these works is the mean values -
series, various periods were found. By the analogy with slight variations on the curve of radioactive decay, fig. 1a).
two ‘faces’ of radioactive decay, the works of the third In the works that we refer to the fourth stage, the object of
study is the time series of fluctuations in the radioactive eclipses, during the rising and setting of the Sun and the
decay rate, i.e., the process shown in fig. 1b). It this case Moon.
the properties of fluctuations are investigated, without
respect to behavior of average values. In this case, weak Local fractal analysis by all permutations method
variations of the averages can be eliminated from the In [15-16], a local fractal analysis of noise-like time
studied time series by the appropriate computational series by the all permutations method (APM) was
procedure, but this does not affect the information developed. This method synthesized the basic ideas of the
contained in the fluctuations. method of minimum cover [33] (MMC) with the
To study the properties of fluctuations, time series requirement of fractal dimension invariance with respect
similar to those shown in fig. 1b) must be parameterized to linear transformations (shifts, dilatations, mirror
in a certain way. After that, the appropriate methods are reflections), as well as regarding to permutations of the
used to analyze the obtained sequences of parameters. elements of a time series segment, on the basis of which
Below we will briefly consider two groups of works that the fractal dimension is calculated. The latter property is a
differ in the method of parameterization: the expert distinctive feature of the APM-method, which gives it a
histogram comparisons method of S.E. Schnoll [12] number of unique properties. The most important of them
(parameterization is performed using smoothed is locality - the ability to calculate the fractal dimension
histograms constructed from short (30-60 points) for short (tens of points) segments of the analyzed time
consecutive segments of time series) and local fractal series.
analysis by the all permutations method [13-14]. Unlike to the MMC-method, for a time series segment
of length N = 2n, the APM-method allows one to analyze
S.E. Schnoll research
N - 1 scales, rather than n, as in the MMC-method and
These studies started in 1951-56, when S.E. Schnoll other methods commonly used to calculate fractal
began a systematic study of fluctuations in the dimension. Due to this property, the value of N can be
measurement results of the biochemical reactions rates. significantly reduced, and the accuracy of determining the
The reason to start these studies was an unusually large fractal dimension increases significantly.
amplitude of observed fluctuations. However, their most
striking property was strongly rugged histograms shapes -
spectra of amplitudes of the measured fluctuations values.
In some experiments, these rugged histograms were
surprisingly similar to each other. This phenomenon was
called the macroscopic fluctuations phenomenon.
Using the histogram method (the method of time series
studying by the pairwise expert comparison of the shapes
of histograms [12]), the following basic properties of the
macroscopic fluctuations phenomenon were obtained [13-
14].
A near-zone effect. A significantly higher probability Fig. 2. Sum of 329-day interval distributions
of the appearance of similar shapes of histograms in the
nearest (neighboring) non-overlapping intervals of the
time series.
Universality of the macroscopic fluctuations
phenomenon. It lies in the high similarity in the shape of
histograms constructed from the results of simultaneous,
independent measurements of fluctuations in processes of
various nature.
Periodicity in manifestation of the macroscopic
Fig. 3. Probability distribution of peak occurrences. Based on
fluctuations phenomenon. An important evidence of the
329-day interval distributions containing 5695 peaks
nonrandomness of the shapes of histograms is their regular
changes in time. These changes of the patterns of
histograms are manifested in the presence of periods:
diurnal (1440 min and 1436 min), about 27-days periods,
annual periods (‘calendar’ - 365 days and sidereal - 365
days 6 hours and 9 minutes).
A local time effect. Manifests itself in a high probability
of occurrence of pairs of histograms with similar shapes in
different geographical locations at the same local
(longitude) time.
Dependence of the similarity of the shapes of
histograms on the direction in space. Fig. 4. Probability distribution of peak occurrences. Based on
Specific histogram shapes, which appear at the 329-day normalized distribution of intervals containing 5695
moments of new moons and at the maximum of solar peaks
hypothesis [32], any dynamically mature system should
come.
In view of the above-said, it is important to note the
universality of the spectrum [17-18], which can be found
in fluctuations of various nature processes.
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264. About the authors
[25] M.E. Diatroptov, V.A. Panchelyuga, M.S. Victor A. Panchelyuga, PhD (Physics and Mathematics),
Panchelyuga. On the coincidence of the spectrum of senior scientist in the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental
periods in the time series of temperature fluctuations Biophysics, RAS E-mail: victor.panchelyuga@gmail.com.
of starlings and rats with the spectrum of periods of Maria S. Panchelyuga, scientist in the Institute of Theoretical
fluctuations in the rate of alpha decay // Proceedings and Experimental Biophysics, RAS, E-mail:
of the XV International Conference "Finsler victor.panchelyuga@gmail.com.
Olga Yu. Seraya, junior scientist in the Institute of
Extension of Relativity Theory" (FERT-2019) / Eds.:
Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, RAS E-mail:
Pavlov D.G., Panchelyuga V.A. - Moscow, 11th olgaseraya@gmail.com
format, 2019 - pp.30-35.
[26] Panchelyuga V.A., Tiras Kh.P., Novikov K.N.,
Panchelyuga M.S., Nefedova S.E. On the coincidence
of the spectrum of periods in the time series of
chemoluminescence of planaria with the spectrum of
periods found in the time series of fluctuations in the
alpha decay rate // Proceedings of the XV
International Conference "Finsler Extension of