Beta decay

Typical beta decay is the ejection of a negative electron from an unstable nucleus that, as a consequence, increases by one in atomic number.

Beta particle energy is a continuous distribution, not the constant single energy of alpha particles (due to Coulomb repulsion). The puzzle was eventually solved without the violation of the principle of the conservation of energy by the discovery of the neutrino. Beta decay is a three body process.

Typical beta decay

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