gamma radiation

British  

noun

1. electromagnetic radiation emitted by atomic nuclei; the wavelength is generally in the range 1 × 10 ^–10 to 2 × 10 ^–13 metres

2. electromagnetic radiation of very short wavelength emitted by any source, esp the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with a wavelength less than about 1 × 10 ^–11 metres

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gamma radiation Cultural  

1. The most energetic radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum; it has the lowest wavelength and the highest frequency in the spectrum. Gamma rays are sent out by some radioactive nuclei. Unlike alpha radiation and beta radiation, gamma rays are not made up of particles, and they have no charge.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gamma radiation

If the excess gamma radiation turns out not to come from aging stars, it could represent the first concrete evidence that dark matter is real.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2025

Meanwhile, the city of Berkeley is working toward examining its own survey for gamma radiation at Cesar Chavez Park, which was built atop the former municipal landfill.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2024

"You know it emits gamma radiation so the obvious thing is to comb the side of the road looking for something with a strong gamma signal... and sure enough that's exactly where they found it."

From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2023

For example, its scientists have consistently relied upon simulations rather than direct values of background gamma radiation, the simplest of the measurements one can make.

From Scientific American ● Apr. 4, 2022

The cometary impact and fireball would simulate all effects of a one- megaton nuclear burst, including the mushroom cloud, with two exceptions: there would be no gamma radiation or radioactive fallout.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan