call me greg Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 First of all, in beta decay (+ or -) I know it emites an electron/positron and an electron antineutrino/neutrino, however I noticed on some A-level work one of the bosons was involved with the beta decay, I was wondering what role it plays in the decay process... Also my physics teacher said "beta+ decay doesn't occur in nature", and I questioned that thinking about what happens in the sun when two protons fuse and will surely undergo beta+ decay to create deuterium (which would then allow a proton to fuse to make helium-3, or deuterium to make helium-4), I'm sure I'm right in thinking his statement needs reworking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathematic Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Strictly speaking he is correct. The two protons don't fuse to He2, which would then decay. It is one reaction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton%E2%80%93proton_chain_reaction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichIsnang Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Beta decay is mediated by the weak force, so it involves bosons. And doesn't sodium 22 undergo beta + decay? It definately emits positrons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Also my physics teacher said "beta+ decay doesn't occur in nature" Your physics teacher is mistaken, but probably not egregiously so. Most of the processes we see are beta-, because naturally occurring heavy isotopes which alpha-decay leave daughters that are neutron-rich, so they will eventually leave you with beta- decays. "Found in nature" is a somewhat ambiguous qualifier. Found on earth, or anywhere in the universe? Found on its own, or can there be a natural process that produces them, even if they decay quickly? But K-40 undergoes beta+ decays, although electron capture is more likely. It also undergoes beta-, so it hits the beta trifecta. http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PR/v126/i5/p1818_1 N-13 also beta+ decays, and in present in the fusion cycle. I imagine it's also produced by cosmic rays, since the production method is a proton hitting O-16 and knocking out an alpha http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen-13 I also imagine a lot of beta+ decayers are produced in a supernova. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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