beta-delayed proton emission

physics

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June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Beta-delayed proton emission is a rare radioactive decay process where an unstable nucleus first undergoes beta decay, transforming into an excited state. This excited state then rapidly emits a proton. This is distinct from direct proton emission, as the proton is released only after the initial beta decay event.1

This process requires specific conditions: the beta decay must release enough energy to create an excited state in the daughter nucleus that is unstable with respect to proton emission, and the binding energy of the proton in that state must be low enough for it to be ejected. Beta-delayed proton emission is observed in some proton-rich nuclei and is a way for these nuclei to reach a more stable configuration.1

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radioactivity
Special beta-decay processes
…not able to bind a proton. In these cases, proton radiation appears with the half-life of the beta transition. The combination of high positron-decay energy and low proton-binding energy in the daughter ground state is required. In the example given below, tellurium-111 (¹¹¹Te) yields antimony-111 (¹¹¹Sb) and then tin-110 (¹¹⁰Sn)…
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…not able to bind a proton. In these cases, proton radiation appears with the half-life of the beta transition. The combination of high positron-decay energy and low proton-binding energy in the daughter ground state is required. In the example given below, tellurium-111 (¹¹¹Te) yields antimony-111 (¹¹¹Sb) and then tin-110 (¹¹⁰Sn)…
Read More