What is beta minus?

1 Answer
Truong-Son N.
Apr 14, 2018

A #beta^-# particle is just an electron, #""_(-1)^(0) e#. We see that in #bb(beta^-)# decay, or we sometimes call it "beta decay". In this process, a neutron will split into a proton and electron as given below:

#""_(1)^(0) n -> ""_(1)^(1)p + ""_(-1)^(0)e#, #" "Z -> Z + 1#

(here we ignore neutrinos and antineutrinos.)

In fact, it is the only nuclear decay process out of #alpha# decay, #beta# decay, positron emission, and electron capture to raise the atomic number by #1#.

One might also call it the reverse process to electron capture, wherein a core electron is assimilated by a proton in the nucleus to form a neutron.

#""_(1)^(1) p + ""_(-1)^(0) e -> ""_(1)^(0) n#, #" "Z -> Z - 1#

(again, here we ignore neutrinos and antineutrinos.)

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