The "Decay Modes" graphic provides a graphic look at how the long-lived atomic particles decay into stable particles. The "Decay Traffic Plot" provides a graphic look at  the distribution of a particles decay paths. For example, note that the K20 "Decay Traffic Plot" indicates that K20 particles decay into stable particle by three paths, with a distribution of  39, 27, and 21 percent.

Clicking on the lifetimes of the long-lived particles, or clicking on the stable particles in the top group, will call up a page that discusses that particle. The pages link back to the main Particle Chart. Use the back button to return to this chart.

As a general rule, nature tries to convert mass to light, and to distribute the light throughout the universe.

Just as certain topologies are more or less stable in the macroscopic, gravitational world ( For example a three legged stool is more stable than a two legged or four legged stool.), certain topologies are more or less stable in the microscopic world of atomic particles.

Nature converts mass to light by directly combining particles and anti-particles to form photons (Light), and by rotating and maneuvering particles into positions where they combine to form more stable particles. Like the three legged stool, certain particle combinations are more stable than others. The net effect of combining particles and anti-particles is to reduce the net charge, baryon number and weakness of systems to the lowest stable value. Less massive particles are generally more stable than more massive particles. The light distributed from previous mass to light conversions provides the energy to rotate and maneuver other systems into more stable topologies.

The red arrows on the Potter's Particle Chart show the "decay modes" of the various particles. Note that massive particles "decay" by one or more paths into less massive particles, and that eventually a stage is reached where no further decay is possible. Clicking on a particle's name provides more information on its' decay modes.

It is interesting to consider by what mechanism some particles select one of three decay paths, and some particles select one of two decay paths, and the topologies that account for the percentage of selection. For example a tossed coin selects one of two "decay modes". A six sided die selects one of six "decay modes". Note that if the sides of the die are uneven, that some sides will come up more than others.