Why X-rays and Gamma-rays are different in nature, though both are of eletromagnetic origin?
Asked by: Buddhadev
Mukherjee
Answer
Gamma rays refer to electromagnetic radiation from nuclear interactions while X-rays
come from atomic interactions. But they are both high energy electromagnetic radiation
and, if you didn't already know the source, you couldn't tell for sure if a particular
photon was a gamma-ray or an X-ray. Gammas tend to be higher in energy since nuclear
binding potentials are larger than atomic potentials but there is overlap in the two
spectra.
Answered by: Tom Swanson, Ph.D. Physics, Oregon State University
'The true spirit of delight, the exaltation, the sense of being more than Man, which is the touchstone of the highest excellence, is to be found in mathematics as surely as in poetry.'