Exponential Decay (Half-life)
Exponential decay toward a constant level, written with the half-life t½. Use it for radioactive decay above a background and other first-order decays where the half-life is the result you want.
Fit the example dataStart with your own data
Example: simulated decay counts of barium-137m above background, 31 points with y uncertainties, opened as a new copy you can edit.
Parameters
- Value of y − C at x = 0.
- Half-life: the interval in x over which y − C halves.
- Constant background the decay approaches.
Tips
- t½ and its uncertainty are reported directly, with no conversion from a rate constant.
- This is the same curve as Exponential with Offset with b = −ln 2/t½. The time constant is t½/ln 2; Exponential Decay (Time Constant) fits it directly.
- Include data over several half-lives so the background C is well determined.