radiation catalysis

radiation catalysis

[‚rād·ē′ā·shən kə′tal·ə·səs]

(chemistry)

The use of radiation (such as gamma, neutron, proton, electron, or x-ray) to activate or speed up a chemical or physical change; for example, radiation alone can initiate polymerization without heat, pressure, or chemical catalysts.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.