From Twitter:
"The dominant decay mode of Copper 64 is electron capture. This is completely neglected in your building model, not even an alternative."
Meeting 2/13 with @ariel-phet:
Electron capture isn't a common decay mode but it isn't that rare either. Such as here are a few isotopes which decay solely by electron capture. So these are some possible solutions to address electron capture (and other dominant decays that are not common).
Most definitely not adding electron capture to the to "B+ decay" button label because then decay equation is wrong, animation wrong, etc.
Could add to Available Decays info. button something like "There are some rare cases where electron capture is the most dominant form of decay but that decay is beyond the scope of this simulation." But we don't want to overload it.
Could add a pop-up info. button by the decay element name with a general statement on the main decay mode not being covered in this sim. This could pop up for Cu-64 and other special cases where dominant decay mode is something else.
LV/AP agree this would be the best way to go if electron capture is pretty common:
Change the B+ decay button to say "Electron capture" on whichever isotopes it's the dominant decay mode.
Keep the same animation but add "neutrino" to the Available Decays legend, either in the bottom row with the electron and positron or replace the positron particle.
On second screen, add "electron capture" to "B+ decay" label and change the decay equation.
LV will talk to Jason about this, why is EC and B+ combined in the nuclide chart? Assuming, it's because in essence, both decays have the same decay path on the chart despite slightly different processes. Depending on this talk, another solution is simply adding to the Available Decays info. button something like "B+ and EC combined in B+ decay button."
From Twitter: "The dominant decay mode of Copper 64 is electron capture. This is completely neglected in your building model, not even an alternative."
Meeting 2/13 with @ariel-phet: Electron capture isn't a common decay mode but it isn't that rare either. Such as here are a few isotopes which decay solely by electron capture. So these are some possible solutions to address electron capture (and other dominant decays that are not common).
LV will talk to Jason about this, why is EC and B+ combined in the nuclide chart? Assuming, it's because in essence, both decays have the same decay path on the chart despite slightly different processes. Depending on this talk, another solution is simply adding to the Available Decays info. button something like "B+ and EC combined in B+ decay button."