Noun
a positively charged particle that is the nucleus of the helium atom; emitted from natural or radioactive isotopes
Source: WordNetAlpha radiation has high linear energy transfer (LET) coefficient, which is about one ionization of a molecule/atom for every angstrom of travel by the alpha particle. Source: Internet
An alpha particle can be thought of as being inside a potential barrier whose walls are 25 MeV. Source: Internet
In 1959 the team continued their studies and claimed that they were able to produce an isotope that decayed predominantly by emission of an 8.3 MeV alpha particle, with a half-life of 3 s with an associated 30% spontaneous fission branch. Source: Internet
For example, performing the calculation for uranium-232 shows that alpha particle emission would need only 5.4 MeV, while a single proton emission would require 6.1 MeV. Source: Internet
Essentially, the alpha particle escapes from the nucleus by quantum tunnelling its way out. Source: Internet
History An early alpha particle counter designed by Rutherford and Geiger. Source: Internet