Gamma First
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009Gamma First
 Is there a material that, when struck by gamma rays, will become a gamma emitter? I'm under the (perhaps incorrect) assumption that no substance exists that, when exposed to gamma radiation, will "store" that radiation and subsequently become a gamma emitter. I'm not talking about already radioactive objects that eventually produce gamma rays because of decay. I'm talking about an inert substance that you shoot with gamma rays and it shoots you back. Yes indeed the energy of a gamma ray can be stored by a nucleus. It could, for example, set the nucleus spinning, creating what's called a nuclear isomer. Isomers are nuclei with the same number of both protons and neutrons, but with different energy levels due to one being excited above the ground state by, for example, having more angular momentum (it's spinning). Such isomers are usually very unstable (with a short-half life) and will quickly revert to the ground state, emitting a gamma ray or two in the process. Some isomers, however, have a very long half-life, storing large amounts of energy for long periods. Proposed application are bombs and gamma ray lasers. Either one would be hard to do. |
US $12.00
