Radiation is the emission and propagation of energy through waves, rays or particles. In this article, we will look in detail at Gamma Radiation.
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What is Gamma Radiation?
Gamma rays or gamma radiation is a stream of high-energy electromagnetic radiation given off by an atomic nucleus undergoing radioactive decay. Before we can delve further into the details of the topic, we need to understand the basics of radioactivity and what is meant by radioactive decay.
Alpha, Beta and Gamma Radiation
Not all atoms are stable. In a bid to attain stability, unstable atoms constantly release energy and matter from their nucleus and often become entirely new elements. This process is called radioactive decay.
The subatomic particles, i.e. alpha, beta & gamma particles and the energy associated with them that are released during the decay of the unstable nuclei are known as radiation. There are three primary forms of radiation:
- Alpha (α) radiation
- Beta (β) radiation
- Gamma (γ) radiation
Among the three, alpha is the weakest, and gamma is the strongest type of radiation.
Gamma radiation or gamma ray is an extremely high-frequency radioactive radiation consisting of high-energy photons. It was first discovered by a French chemist and physicist, Paul Villard, in 1900. It was named gamma ray by Ernest Rutherford in 1903.
Gamma rays are ionizing in nature, which means that they are capable enough of releasing electrons from atoms. Gamma rays are biologically dangerous and can cause animal cells to decay. Typically, gamma rays have frequencies of above 10 exahertz and energies over 100 keV and wavelengths of less than 10 picometers.
Detecting gamma rays is not as easy as detecting other ray types, such as x-ray or light. A mirror cannot reflect it because of its high density, which allows it to pass through such devices undetected. Detecting gamma rays requires a special kind of detector, called a gamma rays telescope, which uses the Compton Scattering process to detect gamma rays.
Uses of Gamma Radiation
Though gamma rays are bio-hazardous in nature, they can be controlled and used for various important purposes:
- It is used in the treatment of cancer without surgery. The cancerous tumour is subjected to gamma radiation, which kills its DNA.
- It is used to sterilise surgical instruments.
- It is also used in the food industry to kill harmful bacteria.
- Gamma radiation has the ability to change the properties of certain semi-precious stones. It is often used to change white topaz into blue topaz.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
What is gamma radiation?
What is radioactive decay?
State the law of radioactive decay.
What are the uses of radioactivity?
- Used in domestic smoke detectors
- Used to sterilise medical instruments
- Used to diagnose and treat diseases
- Used to produce electric power
What are the disadvantages of radioactivity?
- High dosage of radioactive radiation on the body might lead to death.
- Radioactive isotopes are expensive.
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