Decay of elementary particle - life predetermined?

Carbon dating is a nice scientific methodology to arrive at dates of fossils, which are found now-and-then across the globe. This depends on the Carbon-14 isotope that accumulates in living things, as well as the later decay, with a half-life of about 5730 years. A neutron in C-14 "spontaneously" decays into a proton, giving out an electron and an electron anti-neutrino (which means it turns into a stable Nitrogen 14 atom).

Let us review the C-14 decay. Statistically, the confidence level, which depends on the type of testing, etc., is pretty good. For beta radiation based testing, it is within 2% of estimate, given about 4 hours of measurement for 10 grams of fossil. This gives ratio of C-14 atoms to the C-12 atoms in the fossil, which then gives estimate of age of the same. A gram of carbon containing 1 atom of carbon-14 per 10E12 atoms will emit 2 beta particles per 5 seconds (refer Wikipedia).

Actually, if we look into Wikipedia and check the life span of various particles, there are specific estimates of lifetime of neutrons, protons and electrons as well.

Here are some figures of "Mean Lifetime" from Wikipedia:
Proton	More than 2.1×10E29 years
Electron	More than 6.6×10E28 years
Free Neutrons	881.5±1.5 s (more than 14 minutes)
Muon	2.197×10E−6 seconds (2.197 millionth of a second)
Tau particle	2.9×10E−13 seconds (0.29 trillionth of a second)
W and Z Bosons	Halflife of 3×10E−25 seconds (0.3 trillionth trillionth of a second)

Given the half-life of C-14 being 5730 years, it is estimated that about 50% of them decay in that time period. In a fossil preserved for 5730 years, which has, say, 1x10E10 atoms of C-14, we can assume that it would have had 2x10E10 atoms 5730 years ago. When we dig deeper into the quantum level, the question then arises on "which" of the atoms decay, while which "live" longer? Of the 2x10E10, there is a regular decay of atoms, which seems to be quite consistent too, as claimed by Carbon dating process.

The rate of decay, being consistent, would also mean that within, say 575 years, some atoms would have decayed, the counts for which must be within the expected range of errors. After 1150 years some more. After 5730 years, we find that 1x10E10 have decayed. Some C-14 may decay after 57,300 years too.

(1) However, which atom(s) get to decay earlier and which atom(s) get to "live" as long as 53,000 years? Is there any coordination? What other factors are involved?

(2) How would the consistency of rate of decay be explained, while at same time the atoms are assumed to have no "intelligence, information, data-exchange", etc. (unless I have read wrong)? How could one atom decay after 575 years, while another lives for 57300 years (or longer) - and on what basis? If it is purely by chance, then consistency cannot be easily explained. If it is not by chance, what is the scientific process?

(3) If a scientific process cannot be attributed, then is there "coordination" of activities? Do atoms have "life" defined within it? Or is that controlled by an "elusive God"?

(4) If these are not acceptable, then is there a collective "consciousness"? Can there be individual consciousness, even at atomic level (which is the smallest level we observe, due to our own limitations and limitations of instruments we have developed)?

Diverging a bit, I would like to recall here a nice view of "dark times", in a speech by a descendant of a Punjabi immigrant in the USA. She said "the darkness may not be the darkness of death, but it could also be the darkness of the womb - before birth, before a new beginning".

(5) In the same line of thinking, should we consider the decay of the Neutron as its death? Or should we think of the birth of the proton and electron by division of the Neutron?

Some experts, with more knowledge on the science of decay, half-life, life of particles, may throw light to us common folks, who are stumped by basic questions when we look at the quantum level.

Refraction - a surface awareness

Refraction is defined as a surface phenomenon. When a ray of light passes at an angle other than normal to a surface, the phase velocity of the light reduces, if entering a denser medium (higher refractive index), and increases if it moves to a rarer medium. Moreover, the direction of the light wave is changed a bit based on the sine rule (Snell's law). Further explanation of conservation of energy is also outlined by Fresnel's equations, where part of the light is reflected and part refracted.

The above is just a short summary of refraction as we are taught in school. A bit further of explanations are required, to ensure we have covered all aspects. Both medium are considered transparent for these experiments. Translucent materials would absorb part of light and reflect some of the light as well. Moreover, we are considering homogeneous medium for simplicity sake. In heterogeneous / non-uniform medium, there will be more collisions of the photons, absorption, reflection, etc.

The overall concept however does raise some questions at a quantum level. At quantum level, we all are told that there is lot of empty space between the nucleus and electrons. There is lot of empty space between atoms that form a molecule (say glass molecules). There is very higher order of empty space in case of air and we have very highly mobile atoms/molecules. In case of water, even though there is Brownian movement, there is still quite a bit of empty space.

We have usually simplified understanding of refraction into 2-dimensional ray-theories. We are all told of the rays being on the same plane. However, a "surface" / boundary between two medium is usually 3-dimensional. What really happens to the angles of incidence and refraction? 

Other than that, we have many more questions.

(a) As the photon approaches the line of boundary between the two mediums what influences the change in direction of light? Are there different kinds of fields in the two mediums? Does Glass or Water have a different field, that affects the path of light (or path of photon)?

(b) Do the atoms/molecules exert any electro-magnetic field affecting the electro-magnetic waves? Is there a regular field that exists around every atom/molecule? If yes, what is its effect - if not, how does the surface, its angle with respect to the approaching photon, etc., cause the consistent effect?

(c) How is the change of direction different for different angles of approach to the surface separating the two mediums? Does the light sense the alignment of the series of atoms/ molecules of the medium? Or is this also a function of "alignment of the field and its effect"?

(d) At what point does the change in direction happen - as soon as it is within X distance of the field near the boundary? What is value of X that we can reasonably surmise, for a significant effect of change in path?

(e) If there is a very thin film of the medium (hence light emerges back into first medium), then how is the change in path perfectly in opposite direction while going through all that empty space between electrons, nucleus, atoms and molecules? A question similar to (c) above, but now the light diverges from normal (assuming the film has higher refractive index).

(f) So, is refractive index a function of this "field" and is the field same as the electromagnetic field? Or is it a function of the electromagnetic field? Or is it possible that the field is something entirely different? When we think of concept of heat, temperature, etc., along with the refraction concept, and then electromagnetic fields - where do they all fit in, in the quantum level?

Too many questions raised when we dig deeper, and still searching for answers.

Maybe a kind reader will point us to some good information that can set right the simple doubts of a common man.