Energetic Quanta: Gamma-Rays
Gamma rays…
Are emitted from the nucleus to trim excess energy.
Tend to carry higher energies than X-rays, but this does not have to be the case
For example, after a larger energy decay particle (e.g. a beta particle) is emitted, the nucleus may still be slightly unstable (i.e., the atom [...]
Posted in medicine, radiation biology, radiology 
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2 Comments »Energetic Quanta: X-rays & Gamma-Rays
Gamma rays and X-rays are types of photons…
That represent pure electromagnetic energy
That progress at the speed of light
That may pass through all human tissues unimpeded and unchanged
Having no mass or charge, are neither attracted to nor repulsed by charged particles
Gamma-rays originate from the nucleus
X-rays originate from electron clouds
Posted in medicine, radiation biology, radiology Tags: all, and, are, at, attracted, by, charge, charged, clouds, electromagnetic, electron, energetic, Energetic Quanta: X-rays & Gamma-Rays, energy, from, Gamma-rays, Gamma-Rays Gamma, Having, human, light, mass., may, neither, no, nor, nucleus, of, or, originate, particles, pass, photons…, progress, pure, quanta., rays, represent, repulsed, speed, that, the, through, tissues., to, types, unchanged, unimpeded, X-rays No Comments »Energetic Quanta: Beta Particles
Beta Particles…
Are smaller (1/2000 the size of proton) and less energetic than alpha particles
Have negative charge
Are created when a neutron transmutates into a proton
Are emitted during decay of iodine-131, phosphorus-32, carbon-14, and strontium-90
Posted in medicine, radiation biology, radiology Tags: (proton, a, Alpha, and, are, Beta, carbon-14, charge, created, Decay, during, emitted, energetic, Energetic Quanta: Beta Particles, have, into, iodine-131, less, negative, neutron, of, particles, Particles Beta, particles…, phosphorus-32, quanta., size, smaller, strontium-90, than, the, transmutates, When No Comments »Energetic Quanta: Neutrons
Neutrons…
Are uncharged particles
May carry significant kinetic energy (“Fast Neutrons”)
May collide with a nuclear proton, causing its ejection (“Recoil Protons”)
Produce biologically-important ionizations and excitations via such energetic recoil protons
Are often produced as part of fission reactions
Posted in medicine, radiation biology, radiology Tags: (proton, a, and, are, as, biologically-important, carry, causing, collide, ejection, energetic, Energetic Quanta: Neutrons, energy, excitations, fission, ionizations, its, kinetic, may, Neutrons Neutrons…, neutrons)., nuclear, of, often, part, particles, produce, produced, protons, quanta., reactions, significant, such, uncharged, via, with No Comments »Energetic Quanta: Alpha Particles
Alpha particles…
Are large and positively charged
Tend to cause ionizations and lose energy over a very short distance
Are composed of two protons and two neutrons (i.e. a naked helium nucleus)
Large size + relatively high charge prevent deep penetration of matter (blocked by dead skin or paper)
Chronic exposure to [...]
Posted in medicine, radiology Tags: (i.e., a, Alpha, and, are, blocked, by, cancer:, cause, charge, charged, chronic, composed, dead, Decay, deep, distance, energetic, Energetic Quanta: Alpha Particles, energy, exposure, helium, high, important, in, inhaled, ionizations, is, large, lose, lung, matter, naked, neutrons)., nucleus, of, or, over, paper), particles, Particles Alpha, particles…, penetration, positively, prevent, product, protons, quanta., radon, relatively, risk, series, short, size, Skin, Tend, the, to, two, uranium, very No Comments »Sub-Atomic Forces & Radioactive Decay
The core of an atom exists precariously: massive repulsive electromagnetic forces between closely-assembled protons in the nucleus must be counterbalanced. “Stability” thus reflects the balance of power between strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force, and electromagnetic force. The nuclear binding energy quantifies the energy necessary to maintain coherence.
Isotopes are atoms with [...]
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