Exponential decay law and nuclear statistics

The exponential decay of radionuclides is a cornerstone of applied modeling in nuclear science. This chapter reviews different facets of the exponential decay. The theory of exponential decay is outlined from probabilistic and quantum-mechanical points of view. Experimental verifications of the exponential decay and possible deviations from it are discussed. Relationship between the exponential decay and statistics is reviewed and fully derived using stochastic Markov process. Complete decay of radionuclides and its implications are discussed.