Electron capture is a process in which a parent nucleus captures one of its orbital electrons and emits a neutrino. Electron capture, also known as inverse beta decay, is sometimes included as a type of beta decay because the basic nuclear process, mediated by the weak interaction, is the same. In this process, a proton-rich nucleus can also reduce its nuclear charge by one unit by absorbing an atomic electron.

In this process, a parent nucleus may capture one of its orbital electrons and emits a neutrino. The electron is normally captured from an inner shell of an atom (K-shell). This process competes with positive beta decay, which is more common for lighter nuclei. Electron capture is the primary decay mode for isotopes with insufficient energy (Q < 2 x 511 keV) difference between the isotope and its prospective daughter for the nuclide to decay by emitting a positron. On the other hand, electron capture is always an alternative decay mode for radioactive isotopes with sufficient energy to decay by positron emission.

If it is in an excited state, the resulting daughter nuclide then transitions to its ground state, usually gamma-ray emission, but de-excitation may also occur by internal conversion. Since the process leaves a vacancy in the electron energy level from which the electron came, the outer electrons of the atom cascade down to fill the lower atomic levels, and one or more characteristic X-rays are usually emitted. Sometimes X-ray may interact with another orbital electron, which may be ejected from the atom. This second ejected electron is called an Auger electron.

EC with X-ray Emission

EC with Auger Effect

Theory of Beta Decay – Weak Interaction

Beta decay is governed by weak interaction. During beta decay, one of two down quarks changes into an up quark by emitting a W^– boson (carries away a negative charge). The W^– boson then decays into a beta particle and an antineutrino. This process is equivalent to the process in which a neutrino interacts with a neutron.

As can be seen from the figure, the weak interaction changes one flavor of quark into another. Note that the Standard Model counts six flavors of quarks and six flavors of leptons. The weak interaction is the only process in which a quark can change to another quark or a lepton to another lepton (flavor change). Neither the strong interaction nor electromagnetic permit flavor changing. This fact is crucial in many decays of nuclear particles. In the fusion process, which, for example, powers the Sun, two protons interact via the weak force to form a deuterium nucleus, which reacts further to generate helium. Without the weak interaction, the diproton would decay back into two hydrogen-1 unbound protons through proton emission. As a result, the sun would not burn without it since the weak interaction causes the transmutation p -> n.

In contrast to alpha decay, neither the beta particle nor its associated neutrino exist within the nucleus prior to beta decay but are created in the decay process. Through this process, unstable atoms obtain a more stable ratio of protons to neutrons. The probability of a nuclide decaying due to beta and other forms of decay is determined by its nuclear binding energy. The energy release (see below) or Q value must be positive for either electron or positron emission to be energetically possible.

See above:

Radioactive Decay