decay constant

American  

noun

Physics.

1. the reciprocal of the decay time.

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Etymology

Origin of decay constant

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

To begin with, it was discovered that one of the basic components of Libby’s formula, known as the decay constant, was off by about 3 percent.

From Literature

The subsequent γ-ray afterglow subsided quickly, with an exponential decay constant of 40–60 milliseconds, and was followed by prolonged line emission at about 0.511 megaelectronvolts, which lasted for a minute.

From Nature