• Gamma emission is not a form of decay like alpha, beta or spontaneous fission. There is no change in the number or type of nucleons (protons and neutrons) in the nucleus. 
  • Gamma radiation is emitted by excited nuclei in the transition to lower energy levels. The process is a method of losing surplus energy; it is usually a by product of alpha and beta decay.
  • As gamma radiation creates no direct ionisation or excitation of the material through which it passes, detection is usually dependent on the gamma-ray photon interacting with a target atom.

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