Abstract
In 1896, Henri Becquerel first discovered natural radioactivity in potassium uranyl sulfate. Artificial radioactivity was not produced until 1934, when I. Curie and F. Joliot made boron, aluminum, and magnesium radioactive by bombarding them with α-particles from polonium. This introduction of artificial radioactivity prompted the invention of cyclotrons and reactors in which many radionuclides are now produced. So far, more than 2700 radionuclides have been artificially produced and characterized in terms of their physical properties.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Suggested Readings
Friedlander G, Kennedy JW, Miller JM. Nuclear and Radio chemistry. 3rd ed. New York: Wiley; 1981.
Sorensen JA, Phelps ME. Physics in Nuclear Medicine. 2nd ed. New York: Grune & Stratton; 1987.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Saha, G.B. (2001). Radioactive Decay. In: Physics and Radiobiology of Nuclear Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3497-3_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3497-3_2
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-3499-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-3497-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive