(April 21, 2012 at 10:49 pm)genkaus Wrote: Umm... I don't completely understand your argument here, but aren't you saying that the capture of electron causes Type III decay whereas without an electron capture Type II occurs?
Not at all. What was said (and I'll copy and paste from the OP) is that there is an uncaused cause that determines if an atomic nucleus undergoes type II or III beta decay.
Is something wrong with the syntax of that sentence? From your reply it seems that you think Type III is the default. The neutron to proton ratio being too small is the default. Type II or Type III happening is a spontaneous and uncaused event.