Alpha,  Beta and Gamma - decays

Too many nucleons:

• Alpha radiation

• Spontaneous fission

Too many neutrons:

• Neutron ejection

• Beta minus decay  or electron emission   Z -> Z +1

Too many protons:

• Proton ejection

• Beta plus decay   or positron emission   Z -> Z -1       

• K capture (no positron  is emitted but Z -> Z -1)  proton capture   electron and transform into a neutron and  X-ray photons characteristic for the daughter atom  is emitted   

Too much energy:

• Gamma photon  is emitted  from excited nucleus

• Internal conversion gamma photon  from excited nucleus dislodge inner shell electron