Can be a cause of Extraplanar Detachment
#TODO This feels like it should be split into two pages. One that states what decay is, and another that states the different ways decay can occur.
Atoms can decay in a variety of ways. An atom tends to start in a low energy state which can last from seconds to years depending on the type. After this period it can transition to a high energy state. Each instance of decay lowers the energy state, and while the end result is similar this is not considered to be High Energy Reversion.
In a high energy state the Atomic Chains will oscillate more extremely. From time to time two or more oscillating Atomic Chains bump into each other and can even tangle. This entanglement can lead to decay and the creation of Free Chains.
If entangled Atomic Chains are oscillating out of sync, or if they are oscillating together too strongly, one or more is likely to break. If the oscillation is extreme enough, the break can happen at any time. More commonly however the break happens hen the oscillation reaches the atom's Chain Reweaver.
When an Atomic Chains breaks it almost always is ejected from the atom. The Atomic Chains becomes free radiation. It can sometimes stay whole or nearly whole, or it can further break apart into several small smaller pieces. This radiation will interact with atoms they run into in a variety of ways. They can tangle with other Atomic Chains and cause abnormal oscillations, sometimes entering the Chain Reweaver and becoming a complete Atomic Chains again.
Two separate atoms can also tangle in such a way that one or both decays. This is unusual as most atoms that entangle with each other are highly compatible. It is typically the introduction of a Free Chain that changes the entangles atoms' compatibility. In very rare instances two highly compatible atoms will become incompatible after time. If this happens they can spontaneously untangle and several Atomic Chains break to become Free Chains. When this happens most atoms become low energy and further decay is slowed or stopped.
(Note, the following paragraph is only relevant during certain time periods. Eventually it is realized they are made of smaller particles which leads to the discovery of Existence Atoms)
It is unknown what exactly causes Atomic Chains to tangle. It is theorized that each Atomic Chains is made of smaller particles that react with each other. There is debate whether specific types of string have a single type of particle or if they are multiple particle types arranged in sets or patterns.