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Alpha decay or α-decay is a type of radioactive decay in which the atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle thereby transforming or decaying into a new atomic nucleus. Here the atomic mass number of the newly formed atom will be reduced by four and the atomic number will be reduced by two.
In analyzing a radioactive decay (or any nuclear reaction) an important quantity is \(Q\), the net energy released in the decay: \(Q=\left(m_{X}-m_{X^{\prime}}-m_{\alpha}\right) c^{2}\). This is also equal to the total kinetic energy of the fragments, here \(Q=T_{X^{\prime}}+T_{\alpha} \) (here assuming that the parent nuclide is at rest).
17.3.2 17.3. 2. Solution. ↵. Learning Objectives. Compare qualitatively the ionizing and penetration power of alpha particles (α) ( α), beta particles (β) ( β), and gamma rays (γ) ( γ). Express the changes in the atomic number and mass number of a radioactive nuclei when an alpha, beta, or gamma particle is emitted.
Alpha decay (or α-decay and alpha radioactivity ) represents the disintegration of a parent nucleus to a daughter through the emission of the nucleus of a helium atom. Alpha decay is a quantum tunneling process. To be emitted, the alpha particle must penetrate a potential barrier. This transition can be characterized as:
During alpha decay, a large, unstable parent nucleus becomes a smaller daughter nucleus. It does this by emitting an alpha particle, a clump of two protons and two neutrons (a He-4 nucleus). The nucleus's atomic number decreases by two, and its mass number decreases by four.
Alpha decay, the emission of helium ions, exhibits sharp line spectra when spectroscopic measurements of the alpha-particle energies are made. For even–even alpha emitters the most intense alpha group or line is always that leading to the ground state of the daughter.
Sep 25, 2020 · Many types of heavy atomic nucleus spontaneously decay to produce daughter nucleii via the emission of \(\alpha\)-particles (i.e., helium nucleii) of some characteristic energy. This process is know as \(\alpha\)-decay.
