What could a proton decay into?

In particle physics, proton decay is a hypothetical form of particle decay in which the proton decays into lighter subatomic particles, such as a neutral pion and a positron.

What type of decay loses a proton?

beta-plus decay
A: In beta-minus decay an atom gains a proton, and it beta-plus decay it loses a proton. In each case, the atom becomes a different element because it has a different number of protons.

Can a proton decay into an electron?

Grand Unified Theory, which unifies strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions, predicts proton will decay into lighter particle like mesons and leptons. The dominant decay mode is that proton decays into a neutral pion and electron.

Can a free proton decay into a neutron?

The transformation of a free proton to a neutron (plus a positron and a neutrino) is energetically impossible, since a free neutron has a greater mass than a free proton. However, see proton decay.

How does proton turn into neutron?

The decay of the proton to a neutron occurs similarly through the electroweak force. The decay of one of the proton’s up quarks into a down quark can be achieved by the emission of a W boson. The proton decays into a neutron, a positron, and an electron neutrino.

What happens when an element loses a proton?

Protons carry a positive electrical charge and they alone determine the charge of the nucleus. Adding or removing protons from the nucleus changes the charge of the nucleus and changes that atom’s atomic number. So, adding or removing protons from the nucleus changes what element that atom is!

What do electrons decay into?

Title:Electron Decay Abstract: The electron would decay into a photon and neutrino if the law of electric charge conservation is not respected. Such a decay would cause vacancy in closed shells of atoms giving rise to emission of x-rays and Auger electrons.

How is a proton created?

Protons along with electrons and neutrons are the building blocks of atoms. One can obtain a proton by stripping an electron from a hydrogen atom because hydrogen consists of one proton and one electron. This is known as ionization. At Fermilab, we take hydrogen and add an extra electron.