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An alpha ray is a stream of alpha particles. An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium nucleus; it is produced in the radioactive process called alpha decay. Alpha particles, like helium nuclei, have a net spin of zero. The energy of alpha particles varies, depending upon the specific decay reaction, with higher-energy alpha particles being emitted from larger nuclei, but most alpha particles have energies of between 3 and 7 MeV, corresponding to extremely long to extremely short half-lives of alpha-emitting nuclides. They are a highly ionizing form of particle radiation that when resulting from radioactive alpha decay have low penetration depth. Helium nuclei, which form 10–12 % of cosmic rays, are usually of much higher energy than those produced by radioactive decay.
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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Takahashi, JI. (2014). Alpha Rays. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_55-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_55-2
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics
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Latest
Alpha Rays- Published:
- 21 February 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_55-3
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Alpha Rays- Published:
- 14 April 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_55-2