Beta-plus decay
A type of radioactive decay in which a proton is converted into a neutron, a positron (β⁺, the antimatter counterpart of an electron), and an electron neutrino. The nuclear equation is: ᴬ_ᴢX → ᴬ_(ᴢ₋₁)Y + ⁰₊₁e + ⁰₀νₑ. Beta-plus decay occurs in neutron-deficient nuclei (proton-rich).
Formula
ᴬ_ᴢX → ᴬ_(ᴢ₋₁)Y + ⁰₊₁e + ⁰₀νₑ
Real World
PET scanners used in NHS cancer diagnosis rely on beta-plus decay: fluorine-18 decays emitting positrons that annihilate with electrons, producing gamma ray pairs detected by the scanner to build a 3D image.
Exam Focus
Ensure the neutrino (not antineutrino) appears in β⁺ decay; confusing the two loses marks on lepton number conservation checks.
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