Electron Capture Definition

Electron capture is a type of radioactive decay where the nucleus of an atom absorbs a K or L shell electron and converts a proton into a neutron. This process reduces the atomic number by 1 and emits gamma radiation or an x-ray and a neutrino.The decay scheme for electron capture is:ZXA e- → ZYA-1 ÃŽ ½ ÃŽ ³whereZ is the atomic massA is atomic numberX is the parent elementY is daughter elemente- is an electronÃŽ ½ is a neutrinoÃŽ ³ is a gamma photon Also Known As: EC, K-capture (if K shell electron is captured), L-capture (if L shell electron is captured) Example Nitrogen-13 decays to Carbon-13 by electron capture.13N7 e- → 13C6 ÃŽ ½ ÃŽ ³ History Gian-Carlo Wick proposed the theory of electron capture in 1934. Luis Alvarez was the first to observe K-electron capture in the isotope vanadium-48. Alvarez reported his observation in Physical Review in 1937.