Beta decay is a type of
radioactive
decay in which a beta particle (a high energy
electron or a
positron) is emitted. In the case of
electron emission, it is referred to as beta minus decay; in
the case of a positron beta plus decay. In beta minus decay, a
neutron is converted to a
proton via the
weak nuclear force and a beta particle and a
neutrino are emitted.
This
electron ejection is called beta radiation, and is a type of
ionizingradiation.
It is emitted by certain types of
radioactive
nuclei, such as Cobalt-60. The high energy
electrons ejected in beta decay generally have an
ionizing power about 1/10 of an
alpha
particle, but can be shielded by only a few millimeters of
aluminum.
