let me add a question: why must the energy of the emitted electron have a non-trivial spectrum? when you emit an alpha, you're falling to some distinct energy level, hence the single value (or at least a discrete spectrum in the case of complex isotopes). what's different about the beta? is it due to the W boson intermediary?
well yes, I would of course expect a positrrn to emerge, p + gamma -> n + e+ and probably some neutrino for momentum conservation or whatever it is neutrinos do
sosodank OP t1_iu1ikra wrote
Reply to comment by sosodank in why can't a photon of appropriate energy enable P->N conversion? by sosodank
let me add a question: why must the energy of the emitted electron have a non-trivial spectrum? when you emit an alpha, you're falling to some distinct energy level, hence the single value (or at least a discrete spectrum in the case of complex isotopes). what's different about the beta? is it due to the W boson intermediary?