gamma decay, type of radioactivity in which some unstable atomic nuclei

dissipate excess energy by a spontaneous electromagnetic process. In the most common form of gamma decay, known as gamma emission, gamma rays (photons, or packets of electromagnetic energy, of extremely short wavelength) are radiated.

What happens during gamma decay?

In gamma decay, depicted in Fig. 3-6, a nucleus changes from a higher energy state to a lower energy state through the emission of electromagnetic radiation (photons). The number of protons (and neutrons) in the nucleus does not change in this process, so the parent and daughter atoms are the same chemical element.

What is gamma decay explain with example?

Gamma decay: Gamma decay is the emission of electromagnetic radiation when a nucleus from higher energy goes down to lower energy giving out the excess amount of energy through the emission of high energy photons. For example: 13756Ba→13756Ba+γ In this example the higher energy parent 13756Ba.