Alpha decay (original) (raw)
| Nuclear processes |
|---|
| Radioactive decay processes Alpha decay Beta decay Electron capture Gamma radiation Neutron emission Positron emission Proton emission Spontaneous fission Nucleosynthesis Neutron Capture The R-process The S-process Proton capture: The P-process |
In alpha decay an atomic nucleus ejects an alpha particle and transforms into a nucleus with mass number 4 less and atomic number 2 less. For example
23892U → 23490Th + 42He
More usually written as
238U → 234Th + α
Note that an alpha particle is a helium nucleus, and that both mass number and atomic number are conserved. Essentially alpha decay can be thought of as nuclear fission where the parent nucleus splits into two daughter nuclei.\n