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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