Does heat and pressure act like a catalyst for radioactive decay?

Question

Simple question. Would like the answer!

Answer 1

No. Radioactive decay is its own process. Neither cold nor heat or pressure changes can affect the half life of a substance. However, radioactive decay is thought to be responsible for the temperatures in deep Earth. I tend to agree.

Answer 2

Radioactive decay is inert to all external influences with the following exceptions

1) Electron capture decay is sensitive to s-orbital antinode density at the nucleus. Decay rates can be shifted a few percent by oxidation state or encapsulation in a buckeyball. Fully ionized nuclei (e.g., as cosmic rays) cannot decay.

2) In principle isomeric states could be resonantly stimulated to decay. It has never been demonstrated.

Answer 3

Radioactive decay occurs when an element is unstable, having too many protons in it's nucleus. Decay will occur naturally without any heat or pressure, however a byproduct of decay is heat.
Check out this site, there's lots of info here;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_decay
Hope this helps

Answer 4

In general the answer is no for normal pressures and temperatures. However, the fusion reactions which take place in the sun are the result of the intense gravitational pressure which cause the hydrogen atoms to fuse into helium, releasing the energy which makes life possible on earth.