Gamma rays are a form of nuclear radiation that consists of photons emitted by radioactive elements from the nucleus. This high energetic light emission is also produced from subatomic particle interaction, such as electron positron annihilation. Gamma radiation, similar to x-radiation can injure and destroy tissue, especially cell nuclei.
Gamma rays have in general very high frequencies, short wavelengths, are electrically neutral and penetrate matter. The interaction of gamma rays with matter depends on the nature of the absorber as well as the energy of the gamma rays; these interactions determine also the type and amount of shielding needed for radiation protection.

See also Radiation Safety, Lead Equivalence, Lead Apron, Leaded Glove, Glove-Box, Radioactive Decay Law and Radiation Worker.

[Also: Half-Life Time, Radioactive Half-Life] The half-life is the time in which half the atoms (always a fraction, not a number) of a given radionuclide disintegrate from the amount of atoms present when measurement starts. From 200 atoms of a radionuclide with a half-life of one minute will 100 atoms disintegrate in the first minute, 50 in the second minute, etc. The half-life is a characteristic property of radioactive isotopes. The effective half-life includes all processes of elimination, including radioactive decay.
Different half-life terms:
- Physical Radioactive Half-Life
- Biological Radioactive Half-Life
- Effective Radioactive Half-Life.

See also Decay Constant, Decay.

Generation of electrons, artificially or by radioactive decay.

See also Pair Production, Beta Radiation.

The nuclide which produces by radioactive decay or nuclear reaction (e.g. in a generator) the daughter nuclide. The daughter nuclide becomes, if not stable, the unstable parent in the next decay.

See also Decay, Decay Chain and Generator.

Radiography is a synonym for the examination of the structure of materials by nondestructive methods, for example with radiation. Radiography is used for both medical and industrial applications.
Autoradiography describes the imaging of an object using radiations produced by the radioactive decay of nuclides in the object.
Sometimes, imaging modalities without use of radiation such as MRI and ultrasound are grouped in radiography due to the fact that the radiology staff handles different forms of medical imaging. Treatment using radiation is known as radiotherapy.

See also Diagnostic Imaging and Conventional Radiography.