Martin, James E., Physics for Radiation Protection 3rd Edition, Wiley-VCH, 4/2013.

Stabin, Michael G., Radiation Protection and Dosimetry: An Introduction to Health Physics, Springer, 10/2010.Knoll, Glenn F., Radiation Detection and Measurement 4th Edition, Wiley, 8/2010.The energy release (see below) or Q value must be positive for either electron or positron emission to be energetically possible. The probability of a nuclide decaying due to beta and other forms of decay is determined by its nuclear binding energy. Through this process, unstable atoms obtain a more stable ratio of protons to neutrons. In contrast to alpha decay, neither the beta particle nor its associated neutrino exist within the nucleus prior to beta decay but are created in the decay process. As a result, the sun would not burn without it since the weak interaction causes the transmutation p -> n. Without the weak interaction, the diproton would decay back into two hydrogen-1 unbound protons through proton emission. In the fusion process, which, for example, powers the Sun, two protons interact via the weak force to form a deuterium nucleus, which reacts further to generate helium. This fact is crucial in many decays of nuclear particles. Neither the strong interaction nor electromagnetic permit flavor changing. The weak interaction is the only process in which a quark can change to another quark or a lepton to another lepton (flavor change). Note that the Standard Model counts six flavors of quarks and six flavors of leptons. This process is equivalent to the process in which a neutrino interacts with a neutron.Īs can be seen from the figure, the weak interaction changes one flavor of quark into another. The W – boson then decays into a beta particle and an antineutrino. During beta decay, one of two down quarks changes into an up quark by emitting a W – boson (carries away a negative charge). This second ejected electron is called an Auger electron.īeta decay is governed by weak interaction. Sometimes X-ray may interact with another orbital electron, which may be ejected from the atom.

Since the process leaves a vacancy in the electron energy level from which the electron came, the outer electrons of the atom cascade down to fill the lower atomic levels, and one or more characteristic X-rays are usually emitted.

If it is in an excited state, the resulting daughter nuclide then transitions to its ground state, usually gamma-ray emission, but de-excitation may also occur by internal conversion. On the other hand, electron capture is always an alternative decay mode for radioactive isotopes with sufficient energy to decay by positron emission. Electron capture is the primary decay mode for isotopes with insufficient energy (Q < 2 x 511 keV) difference between the isotope and its prospective daughter for the nuclide to decay by emitting a positron. This process competes with positive beta decay, which is more common for lighter nuclei. The electron is normally captured from an inner shell of an atom (K-shell). In this process, a parent nucleus may capture one of its orbital electrons and emits a neutrino. In this process, a proton-rich nucleus can also reduce its nuclear charge by one unit by absorbing an atomic electron. Electron capture, also known as inverse beta decay, is sometimes included as a type of beta decay because the basic nuclear process, mediated by the weak interaction, is the same. Electron capture is a process in which a parent nucleus captures one of its orbital electrons and emits a neutrino.

Boson x beta