I wrote: "time varies with the sixth power of separation distance for a given > interaction half-life, so if you double the distance between the two nuclei > you'll have to wait longer than the age of the universe for something to > happen." >
It occurs to me that the interaction half-life incorporates the notion of time, so that it is the interaction half-life versus separation distance that is what is of interest. But I think the basic idea has been conveyed. Eric

