Why Gamma Ray Emission Has No Change in A or Z?

[abrowaqas]

Why in gamma ray emission there is no change in A or Z ?

We know that in Alpha decay 2 protons and 2 neutrons are subtracted from the element. and in Beta decay there is change in atomic number by + or - 1. but why there is no any change in Gamma Decay in mass number A or atomic number.

i have asked this question to several forums but did not get a satisfactory reply..

Zayed Waqas

 

[ZapperZ]

Why in gamma ray emission there is no change in A or Z ?

We know that in Alpha decay 2 protons and 2 neutrons are subtracted from the element. and in Beta decay there is change in atomic number by + or - 1. but why there is no any change in Gamma Decay in mass number A or atomic number.

i have asked this question to several forums but did not get a satisfactory reply..

Zayed Waqas

When an excited atom makes a transition to a lower level, it releases energy in the form of photons, but it doesn't change any of its identity. A nucleus also has a similar energy level. In certainly nuclear decay, the nucleus can be left in an excited state, where by a gamma ray is emitted when it drops to a lower energy state. In such a case, there is no change in its constituents, and there's no need for it simply via conservation laws.

See

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...UXpX53-Qg&sig2=CMcZsqT787lyBC2_XilhQA&cad=rja

Zz.