beta decay: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	beta emission

Photos

Diagram showing the decay process of radioactive sodium-24, which undergoes beta decay to form excited magnesium-24, emitting a 1.39-MeV electron, followed by two gamma rays as it transitions to the stable ground state of magnesium-24.

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Topics

electron capture beta radiation beta-delayed alpha emission Gamow-Teller decay Fermi decay beta-plus decay beta-minus decay beta-delayed proton emission beta-delayed neutron emission radioactivity fallout gamma decay alpha decay spontaneous fission radioactive series Are Bananas Radioactive?radioactive isotope transmutation branching

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Key People

Chien-Shiung Wu

Chien-Shiung Wu

Chinese-American physicist