The first three types of nuclear decay discovered were dubbed radioactive decay and consist of the alpha, beta and gamma decay.

Alpha and beta decay transmute one element into another and are often accompanied by gamma decay, which releases excess energy from the decay products.

The detector operates by measuring the charge created by alpha particle decay between electrodes in an enclosure.

the energy released in Alpha or Beta decay is typically a few MeV

Gamma decay: Gamma decay takes place when there is residual energy in the nucleus following either alpha or beta decay, or after neutron capture in a nuclear reactor.

Gamma decay: Gamma decay takes place when there is residual energy in the nucleus following either alpha or beta decay, or after neutron capture in a nuclear reactor.

Alpha particles are emitted by radioactive nuclei such as uranium or radium in a process known as alpha decay.

Because alpha decay is common above atomic mass number 205 and an alpha particle's atomic mass number is 4, there are four distinct decay chains for heavy nuclei.

Because alpha decay is common above atomic mass number 205 and an alpha particle’s atomic mass number is 4, there are four distinct decay chains for heavy nuclei.

The alpha decay of polonium-212 is the one that releases the most important quantity of energy, 8.95 MeV.

The energy released in alpha decay takes the form of kinetic energy shared between the released alpha particle and the nucleus that expelled it.

It undergoes alpha decay to the extremely long-lived bismuth-209.[7]

By 1928, Gamow had solved the theory of the alpha decay of a nucleus via tunnelling.

By 1928, George Gamow had solved the theory of the alpha decay via tunneling.

Because alpha decay is common above atomic mass number 205 and an alpha particle's atomic mass number is 4, there are four distinct decay chains for heavy nuclei.