This article is about electromagnetic radiation. For the power metal band, see Gamma Ray (band)

Gamma rays (often denoted by the Greek letter gamma, γ) are an energetic form of electromagnetic radiation produced by radioactive decay or other nuclear or subatomic processes such as electron-positron annihilation.

Gamma rays form the highest-energy end of the electromagnetic spectrum. They are often defined to begin at an energy of 10 keV, a frequency of 2.42 EHz, or a wavelength of 124 pm, although electromagnetic radiation from around 10 keV to several hundred keV is also referred to as hard X-rays. It is important to note that there is no physical difference between gamma rays and X-rays of the same energy — they are two names for the same electromagnetic radiation, just as sunlight and moonlight are two names for visible light. Rather, gamma rays are distinguished from X-rays by their origin. Gamma ray is a term for high-energy electromagnetic radiation produced by nuclear transitions, while X-ray is a term for high-energy electromagnetic radiation produced by energy transitions due to accelerating electrons. Because it is possible for some electron transitions to be of higher energy than some nuclear transitions, there is an overlap between what we call low energy gamma rays and high energy X-rays.

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I keep getting email spam to sign up and become an X-Ray technician. What's up with that? I'd rather be a Gamma Ray technician.
johnderosa (John DeRosa) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:40:48 -0000
I keep getting email spam to sign up and become an X-Ray technician. What's up with that? I'd rather be a Gamma Ray technician.

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