Figure 1. Schematic representation of the decay process.

(a) Decay scheme of ^177mLu to ¹⁷⁷Lu. (ii) Process of bond rupture. The metastable isomer ^177mLu is coordinated to a very stable complex (left side). During the decay via internal conversion the nucleus excess of energy is transferred to an inner electron causing an auger electron cascade (center). After the cascade the atom is in a highly charge state, the chemical bonds are broken and the freed ¹⁷⁷Lu can be separated (right side).