衰变产物

在原子核物理学中，衰变产物（也称子核种、子同位素）是指一个放射性核种经过辐射衰变后形成的新核种。辐射衰变通常涉及一连串的衰变过程(称衰变链)。例如，铀-238(U-238)衰变成钍-234(Th-234)，钍-234(Th-234)再衰变成镤234(Pa-234)，而镤-234(Pa-234)再衰变成…，最终衰变成稳定的铅-206(Pb-206):

由铅212至铅208的衰变链

${\displaystyle {\mbox{U-238}}\rightarrow \overbrace {\underbrace {\mbox{Th-234}} _{\mbox{daughter of U-238}}\rightarrow \underbrace {\mbox{Pa-234m}} _{\mbox{granddaughter of U-238}}\rightarrow \ldots \rightarrow {\mbox{Pb-206}}} ^{\begin{array}{c}{\mbox{decay products of U-238}}\end{array}}}$

${\displaystyle v}$

在这例子中，

• 钍-234，镤-234m，…，铅-206是铀-238的衰变产物；
• 钍-234是铀-238的子同位素；
• 镤-234m (234 metastable)是铀-238的[至孙同位素][?]。

These might also be referred to as the daughter products of U-238.^[1]

参考资料

1. Glossary of Volume 7 （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆） (Depleted Uranium — authors: Naomi H. Harley, Ernest C. Foulkes, Lee H. Hilborne, Arlene Hudson, and C. Ross Anthony) of A review of the scientific literature as it pertains to gulf war illnesses.