10/14/2014 Gamma Decay

http://www2.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/03/3.html 1/1

Gamma Decay

In gamma decay, depicted in Fig. 3-6, a nucleus changesfrom a higher energy state to a lower energy state throughthe emission of electromagnetic radiation (photons). Thenumber of protons (and neutrons) in the nucleus does notchange in this process, so the parent and daughter atoms arethe same chemical element. In the gamma decay of anucleus, the emitted photon and recoiling nucleus each havea well-defined energy after the decay. The characteristicenergy is divided between only two particles.

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