beta-delayed alpha emission

physics

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June 22, 2026

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Beta-delayed alpha emission is a rare type of radioactive decay where a nucleus undergoes beta decay, and the resulting excited daughter nucleus then rapidly emits an alpha particle. This process differs from standard alpha decay, where an unstable nucleus directly ejects an alpha particle.12

In beta-delayed alpha emission, the beta decay populates excited states of the daughter nucleus. These excited states are unstable and quickly break apart, releasing an alpha particle. Examples include the decay of boron-8 and lithium-8, which exhibit alpha radiation with the half-life of their beta emission.1

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radioactivity
Special beta-decay processes
…electron decay from lithium-8 are beta-delayed alpha emission, because ground as well as excited states of beryllium-8 are unstable with respect to breakup into two alpha particles. Another example, sodium-20 (²⁰Na) to give successively neon-20 (²⁰Ne; the asterisk again indicating the short-lived intermediate state) and finally oxygen-16 is listed below:
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…electron decay from lithium-8 are beta-delayed alpha emission, because ground as well as excited states of beryllium-8 are unstable with respect to breakup into two alpha particles. Another example, sodium-20 (²⁰Na) to give successively neon-20 (²⁰Ne; the asterisk again indicating the short-lived intermediate state) and finally oxygen-16 is listed below:
Read More