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Gamma rays are a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation resulting from radioactive decay and astronomical events, characterized by their short wavelengths and high photon energy. Discovered by Paul Villard in 1900 and named by Ernest Rutherford, gamma rays have applications in identifying radionuclides through gamma spectroscopy. They are ionizing radiation that poses health risks, necessitating protective measures against their penetrating power.

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gamma

Gamma rays are a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation resulting from radioactive decay and astronomical events, characterized by their short wavelengths and high photon energy. Discovered by Paul Villard in 1900 and named by Ernest Rutherford, gamma rays have applications in identifying radionuclides through gamma spectroscopy. They are ionizing radiation that poses health risks, necessitating protective measures against their penetrating power.

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A gamma ray, also known as gamma radiation (symbol

γ
), is a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation arising from high energy interactions like
the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei or astronomical events like solar flares. It consists of the
shortest wavelength electromagnetic waves, typically shorter than those of X-rays.
With frequencies above 30 exahertz (3×1019 Hz) and wavelengths less than 10 picometers (1×10−11 m),
gamma ray photons have the highest photon energy of any form of electromagnetic radiation. Paul
Villard, a French chemist and physicist, discovered gamma radiation in 1900 while
studying radiation emitted by radium. In 1903, Ernest Rutherford named this radiation gamma
rays based on their relatively strong penetration of matter; in 1900, he had already named two less
penetrating types of decay radiation (discovered by Henri Becquerel) alpha rays and beta rays in
ascending order of penetrating power.

Gamma rays from radioactive decay are in the energy range from a few kiloelectronvolts (keV) to
approximately 8 megaelectronvolts (MeV), corresponding to the typical energy levels in nuclei with
reasonably long lifetimes. The energy spectrum of gamma rays can be used to identify the
decaying radionuclides using gamma spectroscopy. Very-high-energy gamma rays in the 100–1000
teraelectronvolt (TeV) range have been observed from astronomical sources such as the Cygnus X-
3 microquasar.

Natural sources of gamma rays originating on Earth are mostly a result of radioactive decay and
secondary radiation from atmospheric interactions with cosmic ray particles. However, there are other
rare natural sources, such as terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, which produce gamma rays from electron
action upon the nucleus. Notable artificial sources of gamma rays include fission, such as that which
occurs in nuclear reactors, and high energy physics experiments, such as neutral pion
decay and nuclear fusion.

The energy ranges of gamma rays and X-rays overlap in the electromagnetic spectrum, so the
terminology for these electromagnetic waves varies between scientific disciplines. In some fields of
physics, they are distinguished by their origin: gamma rays are created by nuclear decay while X-rays
originate outside the nucleus. In astrophysics, gamma rays are conventionally defined as having
photon energies above 100 keV and are the subject of gamma-ray astronomy, while radiation below
100 keV is classified as X-rays and is the subject of X-ray astronomy.

Gamma rays are ionizing radiation and are thus hazardous to life. They can
cause DNA mutations, cancer and tumors, and at high doses burns and radiation sickness. Due to their
high penetration power, they can damage bone marrow and internal organs. Unlike alpha and beta
rays, they easily pass through the body and thus pose a formidable radiation protection challenge,
requiring shielding made from dense materials such as lead or concrete. On Earth,
the magnetosphere protects life from most types of lethal cosmic radiation other than gamma rays.

History of discovery

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