Beta-decay spectrum (source code)

= Beta-decay spectrum

A <beta-decay spectrum> gives the distribution of emitted <electron> or positron <energies> in <beta decay>. In ordinary three-body <beta decay>, the <charged lepton> shares the available <energy> with a neutrino and the recoiling daughter nucleus, producing a <continuous spectrum>.

For a simple allowed decay, its shape includes phase-space factors, an <electron> Coulomb correction and an endpoint set by the available <energy>. Schematically, $d\Gamma/dE\propto F(Z,E)pE(E_0-E)^2$ when the <neutrino mass> is neglected and $E$ is total <electron> <energy>. <Nuclear matrix elements> and forbiddenness can modify this expression. The continuum was central to understanding the <missing energy> carried by the neutrino.