Decay Visualizer

A Python-based interactive graphical simulation of radioactive decay, showcasing real-time nuclear disintegration probabilities. This project uses libraries like Pygame, Matplotlib, NumPy, and Pillow to create an educational and visual learning tool.

🛠 Features

• Simulate Radioactive Decay: Visualize the decay of Carbon-14 atoms into Nitrogen-14.
• Real-Time Graphics: Watch atoms decay with interactive graphics powered by Pygame.
• Graph Plotting: Display concentration of undecayed atoms over time using Matplotlib.
• Educational Insight: Learn about decay constants, half-life, and stochastic behavior in nuclear physics.

🖥 Installation

Prerequisites Before running the project, ensure you have:

• Python 3.x installed.
• The following Python libraries:
  • Pygame
  • Matplotlib
  • NumPy
  • Pillow

Steps to Install

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/your-username/decay-visualizer.git cd decay-visualizer

2. Install Dependencies:

pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Prepare Assets:

assets/ ├── c14.png # Image of Carbon-14 ├── n14.png # Image of Nitrogen-14 ├── e0.png # Image of beta particle

🚀 How to Run

1. Run the main program:

python main.py Enter the initial number of atoms when prompted:

Enter initial number of atoms: 100

2. Watch the simulation:

Carbon-14 atoms will decay into Nitrogen-14 over time. Decay events are visually represented in the simulation window. Exit the simulation to see the final plot of Concentration vs Time.

📂 Project Structure

main.py: Main script that handles the simulation and graphical interface. atoms.py: Contains the Carbon and betaParticle classes for modeling decay dynamics and graphical behavior. assets/: Folder containing visual assets (c14.png, n14.png, e0.png).

📊 Dependencies

This project relies on the following Python libraries:

Pygame - For creating the graphical simulation and handling interactivity. Matplotlib - For plotting the concentration of undecayed atoms vs time. NumPy - For handling numerical computations. Pillow - For processing and displaying image assets.

🌟 Features in Action

1. Graphical Simulation:

Carbon-14 atoms are randomly placed on the screen. Atoms decay based on stochastic probabilities governed by the decay constant.

2. Beta Particle Emission:

Decayed Carbon-14 atoms emit beta particles that move across the screen.

3. Concentration Tracking:

Tracks the count of undecayed Carbon-14 atoms at every time step. Generates a plot of atom concentration versus time.

🎯 Future Improvements

Add support for additional isotopes and decay chains. Enable custom half-life configurations for better experimentation. Improve visualization of beta particle emission dynamics.

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to fork this repository, submit a pull request, or raise issues for improvements.