Beta Decay: Upgrade Downgrade

Beta - Decay

A neutron downgrades to a proton, emitting:

• an electron
• an electron antineutrino

(n → p + e⁻ + ν̄ₑ)

Beta + Decay

A proton upgrades to a neutron, emitting an antielectron and an electron neutrino

(p → n + e⁺ + νₑ).

Electron capture

A proton captures an orbital electron and upgrades into a neutron, emitting a neutrino (p + e⁻ → n + νₑ).

Inverse beta decay

An antineutrino interacts with a proton to produce a neutron and anti-electron. This is important in neutrino detection.

ν̄ₑ -2 + p 1 → n 2 + e⁺ -3