1. PUNEQE

Internal Conversion versus Electron Capture

This material is very common, so a basic textbook such as (Lamarsh, et. al. 2001) would have it. For a more physics based approach, a textbook such as (Krane, 1988) would be good.

Electron Capture

Electron capture is a process where an orbital electron accelerates into the nucleus, where it is “captured”. The acceleration results in an X-ray, whos power depends on the \(Q\) value of electron capture. Then, the reaction proceeds as

\[\mathrm{\sideset{^{A}_{Z}}{^{*}}X} \rightarrow \mathrm{\sideset{^{A}_{Z-1}}{}Y} + \nu\]

Internal Conversion

Internal conversion is a process where an excited nucleus transfers its energy to an orbital electron. The energy transfer is monoenergetic because the excitation levels of a nucleus are quantized. The energy transfer effected is

\[E_{e^{-}}=E_{ex}-E_{b}\]

where \(E_{b}\) is the shell binding energy. The energy transfer causes the orbital electron to accelerate, which also causes an X-ray.

Bibliography