Internal conversion

In internal conversion (often referred to as IC), the excited nucleus interacts electromagnetically with an orbital electron of the atom. This knocks the electron out of its orbit, leaving an empty space. For this reason, internal conversion electrons are called electron and not beta particle.

Related concepts

• abundance
• alpha decay
• auger effect
• beta decay
• electron capture
• gamma decay
• mass defect
• nuclear decay
• nuclear fission
• nuclear fusion