alpha particle

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alpha particle

alpha particle one of the three types of radiation resulting from natural radioactivity . Alpha radiation (or alpha rays) was distinguished and named by E. R. Rutherford in 1909, who found by measuring the charge and mass of alpha particles that they are the nuclei of ordinary helium atoms. Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons (see nucleus ).

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alpha particle

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Â© A Dictionary of Astronomy 1997, originally published by Oxford University Press 1997. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

alpha particle(α‐particle) The nucleus of a helium-4 atom. It consists of two protons and two neutrons and hence is positively charged. Alpha particles are emitted by the nuclei of atoms in a process of radioactive decay known as alpha decay.

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alpha particles

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

alpha particles (alpha rays) Stable, positively charged particle emitted spontaneously from the nuclei of certain radioactive isotopes undergoing alpha decay. They consist of two protons and two neutrons and are identical to the nuclei of helium atoms. Their penetrating power is low compared with that of beta particles (electrons) but they cause intense ionization along their track. This ionization is used to detect them. See also radioactivity; Rutherford

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	iRoC Technologies and Alpha Sciences to Partner on Alpha Particle Measurement Service. Business Wire; 10/22/2007
	Experiments with rotating collimators cutting out pencil of [alpha]-particles at radioactive decay of [sup.239]Pu evidence sharp anisotropy of space. Magazine article from: Progress in Physics; 4/1/2005
	Positron annihilation line shape parameters for CR-39 irradiated by different alpha-particle doses. Magazine article from: Progress in Physics; 7/1/2006

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