GAMMA DECAY

• type of radioactivity in which some unstable atomic nuclei dissipate excess energy by a
spontaneous electromagnetic process
• In the most common form of gamma decay, known as gamma emission, gamma rays (photons, or
packets of electromagnetic energy, of extremely short wavelength) are radiated.
• Gamma rays are produced in the disintegration of radioactive atomic nuclei and in the decay of
certain subatomic particles.
• a nucleus changes from a higher energy state to a lower energy state through the emission of
electromagnetic radiation (photons).

• a nucleus changes from a higher energy state to a lower energy state through the emission of
electromagnetic radiation (photons).
• The number of protons (and neutrons) in the nucleus does not change in this process, so the
parent and daughter atoms are the same chemical element. In the gamma decay of a nucleus, the
emitted photon and recoiling nucleus each have a well-defined energy after the decay.
 POSITRON EMISSION
• The antimatter counterpart of electron.
• Positron emission or beta plus decay (β+ decay) is a subtype of
radioactive decay called beta decay, in which a proton inside a
radionuclide nucleus is converted into a neutron while releasing
a positron and an electron neutrino (νe). Positron emission is mediated
by the weak force.

Proton

Neutron

Positron (o+B)

Examples:
(Carbon) 116C --- 0+1B --- 115B (Boron) “From Carbon 11, it will change into Boron 11.”

(Magnesium) 2312Mg --- 0+1B --- 2311Na (Sodium) “From Magnesium 23, it will change into
Sodium 23.”

(Oxygen) 158O --- 0+1B --- 157N (Nitrogen) “From Oxygen 15, it will change into Nitrogen
15.”