4. Disintegration process

 

When hit by a projectile, the parent nucleus gets converted into an unstable nucleus and decays spontaneously. During the decay, the unstable nucleus emits the daughter nucleus along with an ejected particle.

 

If \(X\) is represented as parent nuclei and \(Y\) is represented as daughter nuclei, then the nuclear disintegration is denoted as \(X\ (P, E)\ Y\). Here, \(P\) denotes the projectile particle, and \(E\) denotes the ejected particle, respectively.

 

Example:

 

 

In the given nuclear reaction, ${}_{6}C^{13}{}^{\ast }$ is unstable and radioactive in nature. Hence, the reaction can be denoted as ${}_4\mathit{Be}^9\left(\mathrm{\alpha },n\right){}_{6}C^{13}$, where \(\alpha\) is the projectile particle, and \(n\) is the ejected particle, respectively.