What's the difference between gamma rays and x rays?

AI Thread Summary
Gamma rays are produced by energy transitions in atomic nuclei, while x-rays result from high-energy electron transitions. Although they can share similar frequencies, the source of their production differentiates them. Typically, gamma rays are more energetic than x-rays, but the distinction can be arbitrary and varies by field. Both types of radiation fundamentally share similarities, with their classification often depending on context. Understanding these differences is crucial in fields like physics and medical imaging.
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what's the difference between gamma rays and x rays?
 
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En_lizard said:
what's the difference between gamma rays and x rays?

Gamma rays are created by energy transmissions which occur in atomic nuclei. X-rays occur in high energy electron transmissions...

They can have the same frequency, it's the source that makes the distinction. If you randomly found a gamma ray photon in space you wouldn't know whether it was an x-ray photon or a gamma ray photon...
 


DeShark said:
Gamma rays are created by energy transmissions [...]

I think you mean transitions not transmissions.
 


Perhaps the range of frequencies of the two do overlap, but most gamma rays are more energetic than most x-rays.
 


Fundementally they are the same (just different energies) it's an arbitrary line depending on which field you work in. Like the cuttoff between visible and infrared.
 


jtbell said:
I think you mean transitions not transmissions.

Ooops. Yes, of course.
 

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