在原子核物理學 中,衰變產物 (也稱子核種 、子同位素 )是指一個放射性核種 經過輻射衰變 後形成的新核種 。輻射衰變通常涉及一連串的衰變過程(稱衰變鏈 )。例如,鈾-238 (U-238)衰變成釷-234(Th-234),釷-234(Th-234)再衰變成鏷234(Pa-234),而鏷-234(Pa-234)再衰變成…,最終衰變成穩定的鉛-206(Pb-206):
由鉛 212至鉛 208的衰變鏈
U-238
→
Th-234
⏟
daughter of U-238
→
Pa-234m
⏟
granddaughter of U-238
→
…
→
Pb-206
⏞
decay products of U-238
{\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}}}
v
{\displaystyle v}
在這例子中,
釷-234,鏷-234m,…,鉛-206是鈾-238的衰變產物;
釷-234是鈾-238的子同位素;
鏷-234m (234 metastable)是鈾-238的[至孫同位素][?]。
These might also be referred to as the daughter products of U-238.[ 1]
Glossary of Volume 7 (頁面存檔備份 ,存於互聯網檔案館 ) (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 .