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.)

Related questions
See all questions in Beta Decay
Impact of this question
3055 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License