Interaction of the radiation with matter
We detect radiation through their interaction with matter
?, ? and ? rays interact strongly with matter, being stopped or de-accelerated by passing through materials
? and ? rays interact with matter through their charges
- ? and ? produce the ionization of the matter, and loose their speed continuously;
- distance they travel depends on
- ? rays has much smaller
penetration ranges than ? rays
interaction of ? rays with matter is different, they do not lose their energy in bits and pieces
a photon can loose or its entire energy in interactions, or non of it (energy of the photon can be used to (1) ionize an atom, (2) given to a free electron with creation of a new photon, (3) to create a particle-antiparticle pair)
number of gamma photons surviving
at various distances through a
material --> exponential decay