electron capture
(redirected from Inverse beta decay)Also found in: Dictionary, Encyclopedia.
e·lec·tron cap·ture
a mode of radioactive disintegration, in which an orbital electron, usually from the K shell, is captured by the nucleus, converting a proton into a neutron with ejection of a neutrino and emission of a gamma ray, and emission of characteristic x-rays as the missing K-shell electron is replaced.
Synonym(s): K capture
electron capture
a radioactive decay process in which an atomic nucleus with an excess of protons draws an electron into itself, creating a neutron out of a proton and thus decreasing the atomic number by 1. Often the resulting nucleus is unstable and achieves stability by giving off a gamma ray.
e·lec·tron cap·ture
(ē-lektron kapshŭr)Mode of radioactive disintegration, in which an orbital electron, usually from the K shell, is captured by the nucleus, converting a proton into a neutron with ejection of a neutrino and emission of a gamma ray and emission of characteristic x-rays as the missing K-shell electron is replaced.