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A Greek lambda, the probability per second of one nucleus decaying.
Also known as: Disintegration constant, Decay constant, Lambda in physics
The decay constant is the chance per second that any one nucleus decays, and it is what half-life is derived from rather than the other way round. It is fixed for a given nuclide and unaffected by temperature, pressure or chemistry, which is why radiometric dating works.
Denotes the radioactive decay constant: the probability per unit time that a given nucleus decays.
Contexts: Laboratory
Relates to half-life by a factor of the natural logarithm of two, the decay constant being the more fundamental of the pair.
Contexts: Laboratory
Is unaffected by temperature, pressure or chemical state to any measurable degree, which is the assumption radiometric dating rests on.
Contexts: Laboratory
Collides with wavelength, the eigenvalue symbol and the Lagrange multiplier, all written lambda.
Contexts: Laboratory
A Greek lowercase lambda, two strokes meeting at a peak with the right stroke descending further.