- #1
carl
- 8
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Can you please explain how the beta-plus decay process may be understood (i) at the level of individual nucleons and (ii) at the level of quarks, by writing a decay reaction in each case.
Beta-plus decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a proton in the nucleus of an atom is transformed into a neutron, releasing a positron (a type of antimatter particle) and a neutrino. This process occurs when a nucleus has too many protons compared to neutrons, causing it to become unstable.
In beta-plus decay, a proton is converted into a neutron, reducing the overall number of protons and therefore the overall positive charge of the atom. However, the number of neutrons remains the same, so the mass number (the total number of protons and neutrons) remains unchanged.
Nucleons, which are particles found in the nucleus of an atom, are made up of smaller particles called quarks. In beta-plus decay, one of the quarks in a proton (made up of two up quarks and one down quark) is transformed into a down quark, changing the proton into a neutron.
The positron released in beta-plus decay is an antimatter particle with the same mass as an electron but with a positive charge. It is quickly annihilated when it comes into contact with a regular electron, releasing energy in the form of gamma rays. The neutrino, on the other hand, is a particle with very little mass and no charge that can pass through matter without interacting, making it difficult to detect.
Beta-plus decay is different from other types of radioactive decay, such as alpha and beta-minus decay, because it involves the conversion of a proton into a neutron. In alpha decay, an alpha particle (two protons and two neutrons) is emitted from the nucleus, while in beta-minus decay, a neutron is transformed into a proton, releasing an electron and an antineutrino.