Another Method of Searching for Proton Decay

Abstract

A geochemical method of searching for proton decay, similar to the one used for double-$\beta$ decay, is discussed. If a proton inside such nuclei as ${}_{}{}^{23}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Na}$, ${}_{}{}^{39}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{K}$, ${}_{}{}^{85,87}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Rb}$, and ${}_{}{}^{133}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Cs}$ can decay, then anomalous amounts of the rare-gas isotopes ${}_{}{}^{22}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$, ${}_{}{}^{38}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ar}$, ${}_{}{}^{84,86}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Kr}$, and ${}_{}{}^{132}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Xe}$ may be found occluded in ancient ores.