Proton decay is a rare type of radioactive decay of nuclei containing excess protons, in which a proton is simply ejected from the nucleus. Proton emission occurs in the most proton-rich/neutron-deficient nuclides (prompt proton emission) and from high-lying excited states in a nucleus following a positive beta decay. The mechanism of the decay process is very similar to alpha decay. Proton decay is also a quantum tunneling process.
Example: Proton and Neutron Decay Source: JANIS (Java-based Nuclear Data Information Software); The JEFF-3.1.1 Nuclear Data Library
Proton decay is a rare type of radioactive decay of nuclei containing excess protons, in which a proton is simply ejected from the nucleus. This article describes mainly spontaneous proton emission (proton decay) and does not describe the decay of a free proton. Note that a free proton (a proton not bound to nucleons or electrons) is a stable particle that has not been observed to break down spontaneously to other particles.
Proton emission occurs in the most proton-rich/neutron-deficient nuclides (prompt proton emission) and from high-lying excited states in a nucleus following a positive beta decay. Similarly, as for neutron emission, the rate of emission of these neutrons following a positive beta decay is governed primarily by beta decay. Therefore this emission is known as beta-delayed proton emission.
The mechanism of the decay process is very similar to alpha decay. Proton decay is also a quantum tunneling process. To be emitted, the proton must penetrate a potential barrier. For a proton to escape a nucleus, the proton separation energy must be negative – the proton is therefore unbound and tunnels out of the nucleus in a finite time. Some nuclei decay via double proton emission, such as 45Fe.
If a nucleus decays via proton emission, atomic and mass numbers change by one, and a daughter nucleus becomes a different element. Nuclei that can decay by this mode lie highly above the neutron drip line, and proton emission is not seen in naturally occurring isotopes. Proton radioactive isotopes can be produced via nuclear reactions, usually using particle accelerators.
The mechanism of the decay process is very similar to alpha decay. Proton decay is also a quantum tunneling process. To be emitted, the proton must penetrate a potential barrier. For a proton to escape a nucleus, the proton separation energy must be negative – the proton is therefore unbound and tunnels out of the nucleus in a finite time. Some nuclei decay via double proton emission, such as 45Fe.