gamma ray

American  

noun

Physics.

1. a photon of penetrating electromagnetic radiation gamma radiation emitted from an atomic nucleus.

2. a photon emitted by an electron as a result of internal conversion.

3. electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than approximately one tenth of a nanometer.

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gamma ray Scientific  

1. A stream of high-energy electromagnetic radiation given off by an atomic nucleus undergoing radioactive decay. Because the wavelengths of gamma rays are shorter than those of x-rays, gamma rays have greater energy and penetrating power than x-rays. Gamma rays are emitted by pulsars, quasars, and radio galaxies but cannot penetrate the Earth's atmosphere.

2. See more at radioactive decay

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Etymology

Origin of gamma ray

First recorded in 1900–05

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gamma ray

The team also tested whether the proposed blazar population would produce too many gamma rays compared with the known extragalactic gamma ray background measured by Fermi.

From Science Daily ● May 24, 2026

Using rare isotope beams at Michigan State University and highly sensitive gamma ray detectors, the team measured the lifetimes of excited nuclear states with precision on the scale of picoseconds.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 8, 2026

Answers may come with the construction of a huge new gamma ray telescope called the Cherenkov Telescope Array.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2025

A gamma ray detector on a device developed by a Cornish company is being used to assess soil quality.

From BBC ● Nov. 26, 2024

And to observe these few coming from the distance of Pluto would require a larger gamma ray detector than any that have been constructed so far.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

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