By "positron's other half" you mean the electron-neutrino?cameljoe11c said:In β+ decay a proton releases a positron and an electron neutrino causing the proton to change into a neutron to help balance the nucleus. I am studying advanced PET imaging and trying find a better understanding of the positrons other half. Does it just go on being a normal electron.
I think "decay" is misleading here - oscillation means that those neutrinos can (but do not have to) interact as a different neutrino species (muon neutrino or tau neutrino) afterwards. It is not a permanent transformation as in a decay, and no other particles are emitted.Simon Bridge said:though neutrinos can decay into each other.
Beta+ decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a proton in the nucleus of an atom is converted into a neutron, while also emitting a positron (a positively charged particle) and a neutrino. This process results in the atomic number of the atom decreasing by one, but the mass number remaining the same.
An electron neutrino is a type of neutrino, which is a subatomic particle that has very little mass and no electric charge. It is one of the three types of neutrinos, along with the muon neutrino and tau neutrino. Electron neutrinos are produced in nuclear reactions, such as beta+ decay.
After beta+ decay, the electron neutrino is emitted from the nucleus of the atom along with a positron. The electron neutrino is a stable particle and is not affected by the decay process. It continues to travel at the speed of light and can interact with matter very rarely.
Yes, electron neutrinos can be detected, but they are difficult to detect due to their extremely low mass and lack of electric charge. Scientists use specialized detectors, such as large tanks of liquid scintillator, to detect the rare interactions between electron neutrinos and matter. These detectors are used to study the properties and behavior of neutrinos.
Electron neutrinos play a crucial role in the universe, as they are produced in large quantities in nuclear reactions such as beta+ decay. They are also constantly being produced in the core of the sun through the process of nuclear fusion. Neutrinos, including electron neutrinos, are also believed to have played a significant role in the formation of the universe and are currently being studied to better understand the early stages of the universe.