Gamma Radiation (also gamma rays or ionizing radiation)
Gamma Radiation (also gamma rays or ionizing radiation) : Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation (photon) originating from the nucleus of a radionuclide. Gamma rays are similar to medical x-rays, but are emitted at very specific energies characteristic of their decaying atoms usually of higher energy than about 100 keV. They penetrate tissue more effectively than beta or alpha particles, leaving ions in their path to potentially cause cell damage. Gamma rays travel relatively long distances in air, and leave a low density of ionization damage in their track through tissue. Gamma-emitting radionuclides are hazards from outside the body because their radiation penetrates to living tissue, but they are of less concern than alpha-emitters when ingested or inhaled, because their ionizing energy is deposited less effectively in tissue
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