(April 23, 2012 at 7:29 am)orogenicman Wrote: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decay
In nuclear physics, beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted from an atom. There are two types of beta decay: beta minus and beta plus. In the case of beta decay that produces an electron emission, it is referred to as beta minus (β−), while in the case of a positron emission as beta plus (β+). In electron emission, an electron antineutrino is also emitted, while positron emission is accompanied by an electron neutrino. Beta decay is mediated by the weak force.
Emitted beta particles have a continuous kinetic energy spectrum, ranging from 0 to the maximal available energy (Q), which depends on the parent and daughter nuclear states that participate in the decay. A typical Q is around 1 MeV, but it can range from a few keV to a few tens of MeV. Since the rest mass energy of the electron is 511 keV, the most energetic beta particles are ultrarelativistic, with speeds very close to the speed of light.
Sometimes electron capture decay is included as a type of beta decay (and is referred to as "inverse beta decay"), because the basic process, mediated by the weak force is the same. However, no beta particle is emitted, but only an electron neutrino. Instead of beta-plus emission, an inner atomic electron is captured by a proton in the nucleus. This type of decay is therefore analogous to positron emission (and also happens, as an alternative decay route, in all positron-emitters). However, the route of electron capture is the only type of decay that is allowed in proton-rich nuclides that do not have sufficient energy to emit a positron (and neutrino). These may still reach a lower energy state, by the equivalent process of electron-capture and neutrino-emission
So my question is how spontaneous emission of an electron of a positron evidence of an uncaused cause?
Did you read the OP and the first few post after it? Please do so and if the sentence from the OP (and repeated in post #3) there is an uncaused cause that determines if an atomic nucleus undergoes type II or III beta decay. doesn't explain it in light of the OP clearly saying Type II and Type III are both caused by the neutron to proton ratio being to small yet there is no cause that determines which decay to follow, then I really have no idea what to tell you.
BTW, you do know Google isn't science right?
