Tritium, beta decay, spatial parity

In summary, the conversation discussed the topic of beta decay and its relation to the concept of spatial parity. It was mentioned that in beta decay, a neutron emits an electron and an electron anti-neutrino, and this process does not have spatial parity. This means that the amount of left- and right-handed particles emitted is not the same, and there are no right-handed neutrinos in the standard model. It was also mentioned that this lack of spatial parity is due to the interaction between force carriers and fermions, specifically the fact that W bosons only interact with left-handed particles.
  • #1
nitsuj
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I bought one of those small tritium veils with phosphorus. Read about beta decay, wow what an interesting read!

So there was mention when a neutron decays into a proton it emits an electron and an electron anti-neutrino. Also that there is no spatial parity with the physics. What does no spatial parity mean? Sounds like saying with this particular force space is not isotropic. Is it the force carrier that's not "behaving".
 
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  • #2
nitsuj said:
What does no spatial parity mean?
In this case, that the amount of left- and right-handed neutrinos (or electrons) from the beta decays are not the same. In fact, there are no right-handed neutrinos in the standard model.

nitsuj said:
Is it the force carrier that's not "behaving".

Rather the interaction between force carrier and fermions. W bosons only ”talk” to left-handed particles.
 
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  • #3
Orodruin said:
In this case, that the amount of left- and right-handed neutrinos (or electrons) from the beta decays are not the same. In fact, there are no right-handed neutrinos in the standard model.
Rather the interaction between force carrier and fermions. W bosons only ”talk” to left-handed particles.

Thank you Orodruin!
 

1. What is Tritium?

Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen with one proton and two neutrons in its nucleus. It is represented by the chemical symbol H-3 and is commonly used in nuclear reactors and weapons.

2. What is beta decay?

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (either an electron or a positron) is emitted from the nucleus of an atom, along with a neutrino or antineutrino. This process occurs in atoms that have an excess of neutrons or protons in their nucleus, in order to achieve a more stable ratio of neutrons to protons.

3. What is spatial parity?

Spatial parity refers to the concept of left-right symmetry in physics. It states that the laws of physics should be the same for a system and its mirror image. This concept is important in understanding fundamental interactions between particles.

4. How is tritium used in practical applications?

Tritium is commonly used in self-luminous exit signs, glow-in-the-dark products, and as a source of light in watches and other instruments. It is also used in nuclear weapons and as a fuel in nuclear reactors.

5. Can spatial parity be violated?

Yes, spatial parity can be violated in certain types of interactions between particles, such as weak interactions. This was first observed in 1957 through an experiment involving the decay of cobalt-60 nuclei. This violation of spatial parity is one of the fundamental principles of the Standard Model of particle physics.

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