What is the difference between positron emission and proton decay?

Positron emission is a type of radioactive beta decay where a proton inside an atomic nucleus converts into a neutron while releasing a positron and a neutrino. In contrast, proton decay is a distinct process belonging to particle physics rather than nuclear physics, involving the hypothetical decay of protons that are not necessarily bound within neutrons.

What we know

• Positron emission is a subtype of radioactive beta decay where a proton inside a radionuclide nucleus converts into a neutron, releasing a positron and an electron neutrino. [1, 2]
• Positron emission typically occurs in large, proton-rich radionuclides and results in nuclear transmutation that reduces the atomic number by one unit. [2]
• Proton decay is the hypothetical decay of protons that are not necessarily bound with neutrons, functioning in the realm of particle physics rather than nuclear physics. [2]

Where to go next

• compared withHow does beta minus decay differ from positron emission?
• how it workedWhat happens during nuclear transmutation?
• what followedHow does positron emission tomography utilize radioactive decay?
• the bigger pictureWhat is beta decay in nuclear physics?
• a case in pointHow does magnesium-23 decay into sodium-23?
• an unexpected connectionHow does a rare form of potassium cause natural positron emission on Earth?Potassium-40 represents a rare natural instance on Earth where a scarce isotope undergoes positron emission.

Sources

• [1]positron emission (Wikidata Q1357356) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Positron emission · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Brain positron emission tomography · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Positron emission tomography · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Positron emission mammography · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

1. What is a Quirk in My Hero Academia?
2. /What is the difference between positron emission and proton decay?