Noun
radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of a beta particle
Source: WordNet237 Np will capture a neutron to form 238 Np and beta decay with a half-life of just over two days to 238 Pu. Source: Internet
Also observed, for charged pions only, is the very rare "pion beta decay " (with branching fraction of about 10 −8 ) into a neutral pion, an electron and an electron antineutrino (or for positive pions, a neutral pion, a positron, and electron neutrino). Source: Internet
As an example, the beta decay spectrum of 210 Bi (originally called RaE) is shown to the right. Source: Internet
Beta decay just changes neutron to proton or, in the case of negative beta decay ( electron capture ) proton to neutron so the number of individual quarks don't change. Source: Internet
Charged current interactions are responsible for the phenomenon of beta decay in a radioactive atom. Source: Internet
Decay times for many nuclides that are subject to beta decay can be thousands of years. Source: Internet