Re: [Phys-L] re Bayesian Inference in Half-Life measurement

[Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

 Bernard, you mentioned using MCS at school. But how did one identify the decay constants of two isotopes using a geiger count times series in your old school days?
I see that Matlab offers potted examples of solving such conundrums with Bayesian models and Monte Carlo methods of evaluating hundreds or thousands of 'slices'.
    On Thursday, September 23, 2021, 06:41:53 PM CDT, bernard cleyet <bernard@cleyet.org> wrote:  
 
 

> On 2021/Sep/23, at 07:54, Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> Basically, the "old school" method is wrong and is not used in modern
> analysis of half-life measurements.
>
> Paul


If one is only instructing simple measurement of half life to determine its time,  suppose old school does.  I’ve never heard of old school and having a neutron activator, it a horrible waste of not using the opportunity of separating two half lives.  Furthermore, old school is much less expensive and dangerous using a Cs-137/Ba-m137 “cow”.  

Back in the previous century, I (as lab mgr.) used a 2Ci Pu/Be source to “activate” silver.  

Much more convenient!  v. ~ 25s" and 2.4’  W/an MCS.  I suppose the Cu is better if one want to instruct in the Bayesian analysis.  




bc  
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@mail.phys-l.org
https://www.phys-l.org/mailman/listinfo/phys-l