Electron capture

L.W. Alvarez
L.W. Alvarez
In electron capture (commonly denoted by the Greek letter ε), the proton-rich nucleus absorbs an atomic electron, turning a proton into a neutron and emitting a neutrino.

History

Electron capture was first observed in 1937 by the American physicist Luis Walter Alvarez (1911 - 1988).

Related concepts

  • abundance
  • alpha decay
  • auger effect
  • beta decay
  • gamma decay
  • internal conversion
  • mass defect
  • nuclear decay
  • nuclear fission
  • nuclear fusion

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