radioactive decay
ray-dee-oh-AK-tiv deh-KAY
ˌreɪdioʊˈæktɪv dɪˈkeɪListen
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Dictionary meaning
the spontaneous transformation of an unstable atomic nucleus into a more stable configuration, accompanied by the emission of radiation in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, or other nuclear fragments; radioactive decay is a quantum mechanical process governed by probability, with each radioactive nuclide characterised by a characteristic decay constant or half-life that determines the statistical rate at which a population of atoms will decay; decay series involve sequences of multiple radioactive decays through different nuclides until a stable isotope is reached; the energy released in radioactive decay has applications in nuclear medicine, radiometric dating, and nuclear power generation through the heat produced by decay of fission products in reactor fuel
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