Nuclear processes

Radioactive decay processes Alpha decay Beta decay Electron capture Gamma radiation Internal conversion Neutron emission Positron emission Proton emission Spontaneous fission Nucleosynthesis Neutron Capture The R-process The S-process Proton capture: The P-process

Positron emission is a type of beta decay, referred to as "beta plus" (β⁺). In beta plus decay, a proton is converted to a neutron via the weak nuclear force and a beta plus particle (a positron) and a neutrino are emitted. Isotopes which emit positrons include Carbon-11, Nitrogen-13, Oxygen-15 and Fluorine-18; for example:

<math>

{}^{11}\hbox{C}\;\to\;^{11}\hbox{B}\;+\;e^+\;+\;\nu_e. <math> These isotopes are used in positron emission tomography.

See also

• Beta decay

ja:ベータ崩壊 sl:Razpad beta