elektronmagvonzatáson

Elektronmagvonzatás, often translated as electron capture, is a type of radioactive decay where an atomic nucleus captures one of its own orbiting electrons. This captured electron then combines with a proton in the nucleus, transforming the proton into a neutron and emitting a neutrino. This process results in a decrease in the atomic number of the nucleus by one, while the mass number remains unchanged. Electron capture is a competitive decay mode alongside positron emission when the mass difference between the parent and daughter nuclides is small. The probability of electron capture is influenced by the electron binding energies within the atom; it is more likely to occur for inner shell electrons, particularly the K-shell electrons, due to their proximity to the nucleus. When an electron is captured from an inner shell, the resulting vacancy is filled by an electron from a higher energy shell. This transition leads to the emission of characteristic X-rays or Auger electrons as the atom seeks to return to its ground state. Electron capture is a significant process in astrophysics, playing a role in stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis.