Atomic Physics and Nuclear Physics

Nuclear Radioactive Decay

Radioactive decay is also known as nuclear decay and it occurs when an unsteady atom loses energy by emitting radiation such as alpha particle, beta particle, gamma rays or electron in the case of internal conversion. Radioactivity is the result of the decay or disintegration of unstable nuclei. This process of radioactive decay can be done using three primary methods; by spontaneous fission (splitting) into two fragments, a nucleus can change one of its neutrons into a proton with the done at the same time emission of an electron (beta decay), by emitting a helium nucleus (alpha decay).