Beta Decay

Beta decay is a fundamental process in nuclear physics where a neutron within an atomic nucleus transforms into a proton, emitting an electron (beta particle) and an antineutrino or neutrino. This spontaneous transformation alters the nucleus, changing its atomic number while conserving the total number of nucleons. Beta decay plays a crucial role in understanding the stability and transmutation of elements, as well as in various applications ranging from medicine to astrophysics. Understanding its mechanisms and implications is fundamental in both theoretical and experimental investigations of the subatomic world.