Editing Particle radiation (section)

==Types and production==
Particles can be [[charged particle|electrically charged]] or uncharged:

Particle radiation can be emitted by an unstable [[atomic nucleus]] (via [[radioactive decay]]), or it can be produced from some other kind of [[nuclear reaction]]. Many types of particles may be emitted:

*[[proton]]s and other [[hydrogen]] nuclei stripped of their electrons
*positively charged [[alpha particle]]s (α), equivalent to a [[helium-4]] nucleus
*[[helium]] ions at high energy levels
*[[HZE ions]], which are nuclei heavier than helium
*positively or negatively charged [[beta particle]]s (high-energy [[positron]]s β<sup>+</sup> or [[electron]]s β<sup>−</sup>; the latter being more common)
*high-speed electrons that are not from the [[beta decay]] process, but others such as [[internal conversion]] and [[Auger effect]]
*[[neutron]]s, subatomic particles which have no charge; [[neutron radiation]]
*[[neutrino]]s
*[[meson]]s
*[[muon]]s

Mechanisms that produce particle radiation include:
*[[alpha decay]]
*[[Auger effect]]
*[[beta decay]]
*[[cluster decay]]
*[[internal conversion]]
*[[neutron emission]]
*[[nuclear fission]] and [[spontaneous fission]]
*[[nuclear fusion]]
*[[particle collider]]s in which streams of high energy particles are smashed
*[[proton emission]]
*[[solar flares]]
*[[solar particle events]]
*[[supernova]] explosions
*Additionally, [[galactic cosmic rays]] include these particles, but many are from unknown mechanisms

Charged particles ([[electron]]s, mesons, [[proton]]s, alpha particles, heavier [[HZE ions]], etc.) can be produced by [[particle accelerator]]s. Ion irradiation is widely used in the [[semiconductor]] industry to introduce [[dopant]]s into
materials, a method known as [[ion implantation]].

Particle accelerators can also produce [[neutrino]] beams. Neutron beams are mostly produced by [[nuclear reactor]]s.