Cluster decay

Nuclear processes

Radioactive decay processes Alpha decay Beta decay Cluster decay Double beta decay Electron capture Gamma radiation Internal conversion Neutron emission Positron emission Proton emission Spontaneous fission Nucleosynthesis Neutron Capture The R-process The S-process Proton capture: The P-process

Cluster decay is the nuclear process in which a radioactive atom emits a cluster of neutrons and protons. While this term technically includes alpha decay, they are usually kept separate because the latter is much more common. Cluster decay only occurs a small percentage of the time in all cases. It also is limited to the heavy atoms which have the energy to expel a portion of its nucleus.

The known cluster emissions are as follows:

Isotope	Particle emission	Decay percentage
114-Ba	12-C	3.0E-5 %
221-Fr	14-C	9E-13 %
221-Ra	14-C	1E-12 %
222-Ra	14-C	3.0E-8 %
223-Ra	14-C	8.9E-8 %
224-Ra	14-C	4.0E-9 %
226-Ra	14-C	3.2E-9 %
225-Ac	14-C	6E-10 %
228-Th	20-O	1E-11 %
232-Th	Ne	?
232-U	Ne	9E-10 %
233-U	Ne	7E-11 %
234-U	Mg Ne	1E-11 % 9E-12 %
235-U	Ne 28-Mg	8.E-10 % 8.E-10 %
236-U	30-Mg	?
242-Cm	34-Si	1.E-14 %

Data from the Brookhaven National Laboratory National Nuclear Data Center

See also: Cluster decay, Alpha decay, Atom, Beta decay, Double beta decay, Electron capture, Gamma radiation, Internal conversion