Gamma rays? What's the purpose of these rays? In physics, a ray is a line or column of light, heat, or electromagnetic radiation. A ray is a line extending outward from the source and representing the direction of propagation of the wave at any point along with it. Rays are perpendicular to wave fronts. Gamma rays are ionizing electromagnetic radiation, obtained by the decay of an atomic nucleus. Gamma rays are more penetrating, in the matter, and can damage living cells to a great extent. Gamma rays are used in medicine (radiotherapy), industry (sterilization and disinfection), and the nuclear industry. Gamma rays (γ) are weightless packets of energy called photons. Unlike alpha and beta particles, which have both energy and mass, gamma rays are pure energy. Gamma rays fall in the range of the EM spectrum above soft X-rays. Gamma rays are widely used in medicine and specifically in the area of oncology to treat malignant and cancerous tumors during a process called gamma knife surgery.

Anukriti Srivastava

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