What is electron capture in beta decay?
Electron capture is a mode of beta decay in which an electron – commonly from an inner (low-energy) orbital – is ‘captured’ by the atomic nucleus. The electron reacts with one of the nuclear protons, forming a neutron and producing a neutrino.
Is electron capture beta plus decay?
radioactivity classifications During the 1930s new types of radioactivity were found among the artificial products of nuclear reactions: beta-plus decay, or positron emission, and electron capture. In beta-plus decay an energetic positron is created and emitted, along with a neutrino, and the nucleus transforms to…
What is the equation for electron capture?
The electron capture equation is AZXN+e−→AZ−1YN+1+νe Z A X N + e − → Z − 1 A Y N + 1 + ν e .
What causes electron capture?
Electron capture occurs when an inner-orbital electron (negatively charged) is captured by the nucleus (positively charged). The result is that a proton will combine with this electron and a neutron is formed. This process will reduce the atomic number by one and not changed the atom’s mass.
Why does electron capture happen?
Beta capture (or electron capture) occurs when nuclides deficient in neutrons transform a proton into a neutron plus neutrino by the capture of an electron by a proton, thereby decreasing the number of protons in the nucleus by one.
Are electron capture and beta decay the same?
Electron capture is sometimes included as a type of beta decay, because the basic nuclear process, mediated by the weak force, is the same. In nuclear physics, beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta ray (fast energetic electron or positron) and a neutrino are emitted from an atomic nucleus.
What happens during beta plus decay?
In beta minus (β−) decay, a neutron is converted to a proton, and the process creates an electron and an electron antineutrino; while in beta plus (β+) decay, a proton is converted to a neutron and the process creates a positron and an electron neutrino. β+ decay is also known as positron emission.
What is the beta decay equation?
In beta plus decay, a proton decays into a neutron, a positron, and a neutrino: p Æ n + e+ +n. Both reactions occur because in different regions of the Chart of the Nuclides, one or the other will move the product closer to the region of stability.
Does electron capture produce gamma rays?
The emitted electron in this process is called an Auger electron . Note that although gamma rays and X-rays are both photons, they are not the same. Gamma rays originate from processes in the nucleus en X-rays originate from the surrounding electron shells.
What is the difference between positron emission and electron capture?
Positron emission is the release of a positron and an electron neutrino in the process of radioactive decay. Electron capture is a process which emits an electron neutrino. Both these processes take place in proton-rich nuclei.
Why is electron capture an alternative to beta-plus decay?
Electron capture is always an alternative decay mode for radioactive isotopes that do have sufficient energy to decay by positron emission. Electron capture is sometimes included as a type of beta decay, because the basic nuclear process, mediated by the weak force, is the same.
