|
Sponsored Links
In nuclear physics, beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted. In the case of electron emission, it is referred to as "beta minus" (ß-), while in the case of a positron emission as "beta plus" (ß+). Kinetic energy of beta particles has continuous spectrum ranging from 0 to maximal available energy (Q), which depends on parent and daughter nuclear states participating in the decay. Typical Q is of order of 1 MeV, but it can be from few keV to few tens MeV. The most energetic beta particles are ultrarelativistic, with speeds very close to the speed of light. In ß- decay, the weak interaction converts a neutron (n0) into a proton (p+) while emitting an electron (e-) and an antineutrino (?e) At the fundamental level (as depicted in the Feynman diagram below), this is due to the conversion of a down quark to an up quark by emission of a W- boson; the W- boson subsequently decays into an electron and an antineutrino.
In ß+ decay, energy is used to convert a proton into a neutron, a positron (e+) and a neutrino (?e)
|
Beta Decay Subcategories
Beta Decay Articles
|
| 
