what is beta decay

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay that occurs when an atomic nucleus emits a beta particle, which is a high-energy, high-speed electron or positron. There are two forms of beta decay: beta-minus (β⁻) decay and beta-plus (β⁺) decay. In beta-minus decay, a neutron in the nucleus decays into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino, while in beta-plus decay, a proton in the nucleus decays into a neutron, a positron, and a neutrino. Beta decay is a consequence of the weak force, which allows a quark to change its flavor by emission of a W boson leading to the creation of an electron/antineutrino or positron/neutrino pair. Beta particles are a type of ionizing radiation and for radiation protection purposes are regarded as being more ionizing than gamma rays, but less ionizing than alpha particles. The higher the ionizing effect, the greater the damage to living tissue, but also the lower the penetrating power of the radiation.