decay chain en · NOUN
Meanings
- (qualifier:nuclear physics) A series of nuclides, such that one nuclide radioactively decays into another, which decays into another, and so on, until a stable nuclide is reached. For example, uranium-238 must undergo eight alpha decays and six beta decays in order to become stable lead-206; intermediate nuclides include uranium-234, radium-226, and radon-222.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| decay chains | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (3)
de Zerfallsreihe (Translations) · fr chaîne de désintégration (Translations) · it catena di decadimento (Translations)