Positron

Positron is an elementary particle with a tiny mass and a positive elementary charge. It represents the positively charged counterpart of the electron. Positrons are created only during artificial radioactive transformations.

The positron was first discovered by irradiating aluminum with particles α: ²⁷₁₃Al + ⁴₂α → ³⁰₁₅P + ¹₀n a ³⁰₁₅P → ³⁰₁₄Si + ⁰₁e

If an α particle hits the aluminum nucleus, it is transformed into an isotope of phosphorus due to the emission of a neutron. This in turn immediately decays into a silicon isotope, while the nucleus emits a positron.

References

Articles

• Elektron-pozitronové páry
• Záření beta
• Positron emission tomography

Source

• GÄRTNER, Harald. Kompendium chemie. 1. edition. Euromedia Group - Knižní klub, 2007. ISBN 978-80-242-2012-3.