samarium143

Samarium-143 is a radioactive isotope of samarium. Samarium is a chemical element with the symbol Sm and atomic number 62. Samarium-143 has a nucleus containing 62 protons and 81 neutrons. Its atomic mass is approximately 143.949 atomic mass units.

Samarium-143 is an unstable nuclide, meaning it undergoes radioactive decay. Its primary decay mode is beta decay, where it transforms into an isotope of europium, specifically europium-143. This process releases an electron and an antineutrino. Samarium-143 has a relatively short half-life, which is the time it takes for half of a sample of the isotope to decay. The half-life of samarium-143 is approximately 45.3 minutes.

Due to its radioactivity and short half-life, samarium-143 is not found in significant quantities in nature. It is typically produced artificially in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators for research purposes. Its decay products, including europium-143, also have their own decay chains and half-lives. The study of isotopes like samarium-143 contributes to our understanding of nuclear physics and the processes occurring within stars.