Bétasugárzás

Bétasugárzás, also known as beta decay, is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle is emitted from an atomic nucleus. A beta particle is either an electron or a positron. There are two main types of beta decay: beta-minus (β-) and beta-plus (β+). In beta-minus decay, a neutron within the nucleus transforms into a proton, an electron (the beta particle), and an antineutrino. This process increases the atomic number of the nucleus by one, while the mass number remains unchanged. Beta-plus decay is the opposite, where a proton transforms into a neutron, a positron (the beta particle), and a neutrino. This process decreases the atomic number by one, with the mass number remaining constant. Positrons are the antiparticles of electrons and have the same mass but a positive charge. Beta particles are moderately penetrating radiation and can pass through paper but are stopped by thin sheets of metal like aluminum. They can cause damage to living tissue if absorbed. Beta decay is a fundamental process in nuclear physics and is responsible for the transmutation of elements. It plays a role in various natural phenomena, including the energy production in stars and the decay of radioactive isotopes found in the Earth's crust.