noun
beta
Radiation consisting of electrons or positrons emitted in radioactive decay.
The detector records beta radiation from the sample.
Etymology
The name is the second Greek letter. Physicists used Greek letters to distinguish types of radiation, and beta became the label for the electron or positron type.
More examples
- A thin shield reduced the beta particles reaching the sensor.
- The lesson compared alpha and beta decay.
- The instrument measured the beta emissions.
Forms
beta