Table of Contents
Can an electron emit gamma rays?
Gamma rays are also produced through the process of pair annihilation, in which an electron and its antiparticle, a positron, vanish and two photons are created. They can also be generated during the decay of some unstable subatomic particles, such as the neutral pion.
Can atoms emit X-rays?
Carbon atoms (6 protons each) can emit X rays. But carbon lines are at the low end of X rays. Many X-ray instruments cannot detect these photons. Of the common elements in the universe, iron (26 protons) and oxygen (8 protons) usually are the two most prominent sources of X-ray lines.
What can emit gamma rays?
They are produced by the hottest and most energetic objects in the universe, such as neutron stars and pulsars, supernova explosions, and regions around black holes. On Earth, gamma waves are generated by nuclear explosions, lightning, and the less dramatic activity of radioactive decay.
Can we see gamma rays?
If you could see gamma-rays, the night sky would look strange and unfamiliar. The gamma-ray moon just looks like a round blob – lunar features are not visible. In high-energy gamma rays, the Moon is actually brighter than the quiet Sun. This image was taken by EGRET.
What elements give off gamma rays?
Some elements contained in the earth spontaneously emit gamma rays: potassium-40, thorium, uranium, and the radioactive families of the last two. These elements mainly exist in shales, which are thus more radioactive than any other formations.
What frequency are xrays?
X-ray, electromagnetic radiation of extremely short wavelength and high frequency, with wavelengths ranging from about 10−8 to 10−12 metre and corresponding frequencies from about 1016 to 1020 hertz (Hz).
Can gamma rays pass through metal?
Gamma rays are high-energy waves that can travel at the speed of light and penetrate many substances, including metal. A few inches of lead is enough to block gamma rays — which is why you wear a lead apron when you get x-rays — but at least 3 meters of concrete are needed to stop them.