Gamma Rays (γ)

’Light of the nuclei’ , gamma rays (γ) ar e photons naturally emitted by nuclei left in an excited state after alpha or beta decays or neutron captures. The nucleus gets rid of its energy excess by emitting a gamma. The emission coincide with a change of spin and a rearrangement of the nucleus, but is not a disintegration. The energy of these gamma are currently about a hundred thousand or million electronvolts. Gamma are more penetrating than X-rays and require efficient screening for radioprotection.