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gamma ray

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.

gamma ray

Penetrating very short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation, similar to an X-ray but of higher energy, that is emitted spontaneously by some radioactive substances (see gamma decay; radioactivity). Gamma radiation also originates in the decay of certain subatomic particles and in particle-antiparticle annihilation (see also antimatter). Gamma rays can initiate nuclear fission, can be absorbed by ejection of an electron (see photoelectric effect), and can be scattered by free electrons (see Compton effect).


gamma ray [′gamĀ·ə ‚rā]
(nuclear physics)
A high-energy photon, especially as emitted by a nucleus in a transition between two energy levels.


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Byline: ANI Washington, November 3 (ANI): NASA's Fermi telescope has detected gamma rays from "star factories" in other galaxies.
The event, designated GRB 090423, was first detected by the American space agency Nasa's Swift satellite, which is designed to spot gamma ray bursts.
Many astronomers believe that as the star fades away and becomes a black hole, it shoots gamma rays into space.
 
 
 
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