在原子核物理学中,衰变产物(也称至子同位素)是一个元素经过辐射衰变后剩下来的核素。辐射衰变通常涉及很多过程(衰变链)。例如,铀238(U-238)衰变至钍234(Th-234),钍234(Th-234)再衰变成镤234(Pa-234),而镤234(Pa-234)再衰变成…,再衰变成铅206(Pb-206)(稳定):
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}
在这例子中,
These might also be referred to as the daughter products of U-238.