The continuum of energies transferred to electrons by Compton scattering is called the Compton continuum. It reflects also the maximum energy which a photon can give to the Compton electron depending on a maximum scattering angle and it's initially energy.

See also Compton Effect.

(eV) Electron volt is an energy unit defined as 1.60919 x10^-19 joules (in older unit 1.60919 x10^-12 erg). One electron volt is equal to the kinetic energy required to raise an electron through a potential difference of one volt (in a vacuum). The electron volt is not an SI unit but its use is valid within the International System for atomic (eV), electronic (keV), nuclear (MeV), and subnuclear processes (GeV or TeV).

In medical imaging used units:
MeV: One million electron volts
keV: One thousand electron volts.

Atomic or nuclear fission is the process of splitting a heavy nucleus into two lighter nuclei. Some nuclides split up spontaneous as a type of radioactive decay. In other elements, fission is induced through the reaction of an incident radiation with the nucleus. High energy rates are released during the fission reaction (difference between the binding energies); this energy is used to produce heat and electricity e.g. in nuclear power plants.

A gamma quantum is a distinct photon of electromagnetic radiation with the highest energy, shortest wavelength. The energy of a single photon is above 100 keV, the wavelength is below about 10 picometers. Gamma photons are generated by processes within the atomic nuclei.

See also Quantum.

(LINAC) [Linear Particle Accelerator]
An electrical device that creates high-energy radioactive materials to treat cancers. It uses electricity to form a fast-moving linear stream of subatomic particles to collide with the target. LINACs for medical use produce a beam of 6-30 MeV energy.