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Radioactive Decay Modes
| Mode | Definition |
| β− | Negatron (electron) emission. Conversion of a neutron to a proton and emission of an electron and an antineutrino |
| β+ | Positron emission. Conversion of a proton to a neutron and emission of an positron and an neutrino. Always in competition with EC decay. |
| EC | Electron capture. Capture of an atomic electron converting a proton to a neutron and emission of a neutrino. |
| α | Alpha (4He) emission. |
| IT | Isomeric transition. γ-ray or conversion electron emission from an long-lived metastable state. γ-ray emission from short-lived excited states frequently accompanies all decay modes. |
| SF | Spontaneous fission. Splitting of nucleus into to lighter nuclei, usually accompanied by neutron emission. |
| p | Proton emission. |
| n | Neutron emission. |
| β−β− | Double negatron emission. Conversion of two neutrons to two protons and emission of two electrons and two antinuetrinos. |
| ECEC | Double orbital electron capture. Conversion of two protons to two neutrons and emission of two positrons and two neutrinos. |
| β−x | Negatron-delayed emission of x=n,2n,α,... |
| ECx | Electron capture emission of x=p,α,SF,... |
| 14C | 14C emission. Other nuclei can also be emitted. |
| It is generally true that a nucleus can decay by multiple alternative energetically possible decay modes. The decay branching intensities are given, when known. | |