Radioactivity and the Interaction of Nuclear Radiation With Matter

Abstract

In this chapter we want to discuss two topics: decay of radioactive atoms and the interaction with matter of nuclear radiation emitted by decay of radioactive atoms. The words “radionuclides” could be used interchangeably with “radioactive atoms” in this chapter without confusion. Nuclear radiation is sometimes just called “radiation” if there is no chance of confusion with other forms of radiation such as light and radio waves. The most important forms of nuclear radiation from the atmospheric and environmental radioactivity standpoint are alpha particles (helium nuclei), beta particles (high-energy electrons or positrons), and gamma rays (high-energy photons, i.e., high-energy electromagnetic bundles of energy).