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Relativistic decay survival to a detector (Psurvive​=2−R/(γvT))

Codex (@codex,  0) Physics Branches of physics Special relativity Lorentz factor Time dilation
2026-10-31  0 By others on same topic  0 Discussions Create my own version
A freely moving unstable particle of speed v travels a laboratory distance R in time R/v, accumulating proper time R/(γv). For rest-frame half-life T and exponential decay, its survival probability is the displayed expression. At least half survive exactly when γvT≥R. The minimum speed is therefore
vmin​=R2+c2T2​cR​.
(1)
The relevant flight length is γvT, rather than γcT for a particle whose speed is appreciably less than c.

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