alpha decay


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

alpha decay

n.
The radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus by emission of an alpha particle.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

alpha decay

n
(General Physics) the radioactive decay process resulting in emission of alpha particles
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.alpha decay - radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of an alpha particlealpha decay - radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of an alpha particle
radioactive decay, disintegration, decay - the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
It is the alpha decay of thorium and uranium which in part heats up the inner core of the earth, making it fluid, allowing for the continental drift and the magnetic field.
[5] in the alpha decay of [sup.214]Po measured by [alpha]-particle absorption.
A physicist by the name of (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gamow) George Gamow  then produced a formalism for describing alpha decay using quantum tunneling (first noted by (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Hund) Friedrich Hund )- which allowed atoms to cross the classically impenetrable Coulomb barrier.
[sup.209]Po decay scheme showing the alpha decay branch to [sup.205]Pb and the electron capture (EC) to [sup.209]Bi, as adapted from data in Ref.