Alfapartikkelien

Alfapartikkelien, also known as alpha particles, are a form of nuclear radiation. They consist of two protons and two neutrons, making them identical to a helium nucleus. Alpha particles are emitted during a process called alpha decay, which is a type of radioactive decay where an atomic nucleus loses an alpha particle. This process occurs in unstable, heavy isotopes.

The emission of an alpha particle results in a transformation of the parent atom into a daughter atom. The atomic number of the parent nucleus decreases by two, and its mass number decreases by four. For example, Uranium-238 decays into Thorium-234 by emitting an alpha particle.

Despite their relatively large mass and charge, alpha particles have a very short range in matter. They are easily stopped by a sheet of paper or the outer layer of human skin. However, if an alpha-emitting substance is ingested or inhaled, the alpha particles can cause significant damage to internal tissues due to their high ionizing power. This means they deposit a lot of energy over a short distance, breaking chemical bonds and damaging cells.

Alpha particles are detected using devices like Geiger counters or scintillation detectors. Their properties make them useful in certain applications, such as smoke detectors and radioisotope thermoelectric generators, where their short range and high energy deposition are advantageous and their radioactivity is contained.