beetalõhustumise

Beetalõhustumise, also known as beta-decay fragmentation, is a process in nuclear physics where an atomic nucleus undergoes beta decay and then subsequently fragments into smaller nuclei or particles. Beta decay itself involves the transformation of a neutron into a proton (or vice versa) within the nucleus, emitting an electron or positron and a neutrino. This transformation changes the atomic number of the nucleus, often leading to an unstable or highly excited state.

Following this beta decay, if the resulting nucleus possesses sufficient excitation energy, it can become unstable and undergo fission or fragmentation. This fragmentation can result in the emission of multiple nucleons, such as protons and neutrons, or even the splitting of the nucleus into two or more lighter nuclei. The specific outcome of beetalõhustumise depends on the initial nucleus, the energy released during beta decay, and the nuclear structure of the intermediate daughter nucleus. This phenomenon is of interest in understanding nuclear stability, reaction mechanisms, and astrophysical processes where such decay chains might occur. It is a less common pathway than direct beta decay to a stable daughter nucleus but is an important consideration in the study of radioactive decay and nuclear reactions.