Gamma radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation, specifically high-energy photons. It is similar to other forms of electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays and visible light, but has much higher energy and shorter wavelengths. Unlike alpha particles and beta particles, which are made of particles (alpha particles are helium nuclei, and beta particles are electrons or positrons), gamma rays are not composed of matter; they are pure energy.
Gamma radiation is emitted during radioactive decay processes, typically from unstable atomic nuclei transitioning to lower energy states. Because it carries a significant amount of energy, gamma rays are capable of penetrating most materials, including human tissue, making them both useful in medical applications (like cancer treatment and imaging) and hazardous due to their potential for damage to biological cells.
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