The nuclide produced by radioactive decay or nuclear reaction (e.g. in a generator) of the parent nuclide. The daughter nuclide becomes, if not stable, the unstable parent in the next decay.

See also Decay, Decay Chain and Generator.

The nuclide which produces by radioactive decay or nuclear reaction (e.g. in a generator) the daughter nuclide. The daughter nuclide becomes, if not stable, the unstable parent in the next decay.

See also Decay, Decay Chain and Generator.

[Also: Half-Life Time, Radioactive Half-Life] The half-life is the time in which half the atoms (always a fraction, not a number) of a given radionuclide disintegrate from the amount of atoms present when measurement starts. From 200 atoms of a radionuclide with a half-life of one minute will 100 atoms disintegrate in the first minute, 50 in the second minute, etc. The half-life is a characteristic property of radioactive isotopes. The effective half-life includes all processes of elimination, including radioactive decay.
Different half-life terms:
- Physical Radioactive Half-Life
- Biological Radioactive Half-Life
- Effective Radioactive Half-Life.

See also Decay Constant, Decay.

A positron is a positively charged, with a resting energy of at least 511 keV, subatomic particle. A positron is the antiparticle of an electron, identical in mass and spin.
Positrons can be generated by positron decay or pair production.
Positron emission tomography detects positrons from the decay of radioactive tracers.

See also Beta Decay.

[Radioactive Isotope] Radioisotopes are atoms with an unstable nucleus, which try to reach a more stable state by emitting radiation. Through one or more steps down its decay chain a more stable number of protons and neutrons is reached. Approximately 3,800 natural and artificial (fission, generator) radioisotopes exist. Radioisotopes are commonly used in science, industry, and nuclear medicine.

See also Isotope, Decay and Decay Chain.