Where do the electron and antineutrino come from in beta decay? [duplicate]








**This question already has answers here**:
 
 




[In nuclear chemistry, how does a neutron split to form a proton and an electron?](/questions/7159/in-nuclear-chemistry-how-does-a-neutron-split-to-form-a-proton-and-an-electron)

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Closed 6 years ago.



I was studying about nuclear reactions and similar stuff, but stumbled upon this doubt


In the process of beta decay, where a neutron transforms into a proton, a positron and an antineutrino, where do the electron and antineutrino come from ( do they already exist within the neutron or like? )


I do not believe that this is a duplicate of [In nuclear chemistry, how does a neutron split to form a proton and an electron?](https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/7159/in-nuclear-chemistry-how-does-a-neutron-split-to-form-a-proton-and-an-electron)




A down quark of the neutron emits a virtual W- boson which becomes the electron and antineutrino pair.


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