What are comparisons between electrons, beta particles, and positrons?

1 Answer
Truong-Son N.
Apr 4, 2018

Well, here's a table...

ul("Name"" "" ""Type"" ""Spin"" ""Charge (a.u.)"" ""Mass (kg)"" "" "" ")
"Positron"" "beta" "" "" "1/2" "+1" "" "" "" "" "9.10938356 xx 10^(-31)
"Electron"" "beta" "" "" "1/2" "-1" "" "" "" "" "9.10938356 xx 10^(-31)

They're both fermions, since their spins are both half-integer. They're also both beta particles. In nuclear chemistry, we speak of positron emission (beta^+ decay) and beta decay (beta^- decay):

BETA DECAY (beta^-)

Here a neutron emits an electron ""_(-1)^0 e (a beta^- particle) and a proton ""_1^1 p remains.

""_0^1 n -> ""_1^1 p + ""_(-1)^(0) e

An electron antineutrino barnu_e is also emitted but we don't often say it.

POSITRON EMISSION (beta^+)

Here a proton emits a positron ""_1^0 e (a beta^+ particle) and a neutron ""_0^1 n remains.

""_1^1 p -> ""_1^0 e + ""_0^1 n

An electron neutrino nu_e is also emitted but we don't often say it.

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