gamma rays
Shortest electromagnetic waves
Gamma rays are the highest-energy form of electromagnetic radiation, with wavelengths shorter than X-rays.
They're produced by radioactive decay, nuclear reactions, and cosmic events.
In medicine, gamma rays treat cancer by destroying tumor cells.
In popular culture, gamma radiation famously transformed Bruce Banner into the Hulk.
Wave-propagating energy through space
- photonsDiscrete packets of radiance
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- high-energyMarked by intense activity
ionizing radiation · quantum · Compton scattering · antimatter · positron · spectrum · penetrating · absorption
Medical radiation for cancer
- radiosurgeryTargeted radiation destroying tumors
- oncologyCancer medicine specialty
- cancer therapyTreatment for malignant disease
- cobalt-60Radioactive isotope for therapy
irradiation · sterilization · nuclear medicine · brachytherapy · radiation dose · gray · fractionation · targeted therapy
Producing charged particles
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- radiation sicknessIllness from ionizing exposure
- DNA damageInjury to genetic material
cell death · radiation poisoning · cancer risk · dosimeter · Geiger counter · radiation exposure · shielding · contamination
Exploding massive star
- neutron starUltradense stellar remnant
- pulsarMagnetized rotating neutron emitter
- black holeCollapsed star's remnant
- quasarLuminous active galactic core
magnetar · cosmic radiation · interstellar · extragalactic · nucleosynthesis · cosmological · Big Bang · universe
Study of light-matter interaction
- background radiationResidual energy from early universe
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- countingDetermining quantity sequentially
electromagnetic radiation
Wave-propagating energy through space
- photonsDiscrete packets of radiance
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- frequencyRate of recurrence
high-energy · ionizing radiation · quantum · Compton scattering · antimatter · positron · spectrum · penetrating · absorption · attenuation
radiotherapy
Medical radiation for cancer
- radiosurgeryTargeted radiation destroying tumors
- oncologyCancer medicine specialty
- cancer therapyTreatment for malignant disease
cobalt-60 · irradiation · sterilization · nuclear medicine · brachytherapy · radiation dose · gray · fractionation · targeted therapy · radiopharmaceutical
ionizing
Producing charged particles
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- radiation sicknessIllness from ionizing exposure
DNA damage · cell death · radiation poisoning · cancer risk · dosimeter · Geiger counter · radiation exposure · shielding · contamination · fallout
supernova
Exploding massive star
- neutron starUltradense stellar remnant
- pulsarMagnetized rotating neutron emitter
- black holeCollapsed star's remnant
quasar · magnetar · cosmic radiation · interstellar · extragalactic · nucleosynthesis · cosmological · Big Bang · universe
spectroscopy
Study of light-matter interaction
- background radiationResidual energy from early universe
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- countingDetermining quantity sequentially
- radiation scienceradioactive decay, ionizing radiation, alpha particles, beta particles, isotopes
- nuclear radiationradiation exposure, radiation poisoning, radioactive isotopes, fallout, nuclear meltdown
- radioactivityradioactive decay, radioactive isotopes, radioisotopes, radionuclides, half-life
- radiobiologyradiobiology, DNA damage, mutations, ionizing radiation, cell damage
- astroparticlesneutrinos, photons, protons, electrons, positrons
- Gamma-Ray Burstsafterglow, progenitors, beaming, energy spectrum, redshift
gamma raysradio waves
Low-frequency electromagnetic radiation
infrared radiation · microwaves · visible light · thermal radiation · infrared