Gamma decay, also known as gamma emission or gamma radiation, is a type of radioactive decay that involves the release of gamma rays from the nucleus of an atom. It is one of the three main types of radioactive decay, alongside alpha decay and beta decay.
During gamma decay, an unstable atomic nucleus in an excited state transitions to a lower energy state by emitting high-energy gamma photons. Unlike alpha and beta decay, gamma decay does not involve the emission of particles from the nucleus but rather the emission of electromagnetic radiation in the form of gamma rays.
Gamma rays are high-frequency, high-energy electromagnetic waves that have no mass or charge. They are highly penetrating and can travel long distances through various materials. These gamma photons carry energy but do not change the identity of the atom or alter its atomic number or mass; they represent a transition of the nucleus to a more stable energy state.
Gamma decay often occurs following alpha or beta decay processes, where the nucleus remains in an excited state and releases excess energy in the form of gamma radiation to achieve a more stable configuration.
