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{{for|other uses|Gamma (disambiguation)}}
'''Gamma rays''' (γ-rays) are [[electromagnetic]] waves with the smallest [[wavelength]]s in the [[electromagnetic spectrum]].<ref>The electromagnetic spectrum is made of many types of waves that are like light, but you can not see all of them.</ref> They were discovered in 1900 by [[Paul Villard]], and named in 1903 by [[Ernest Rutherford]].

Gamma rays are produced by some types of radioactive [[atom]]s.  Gamma rays are like [[x-rays]]. Both gamma rays and x-rays are [[photons]] with very high energies. Gamma rays are also a type of [[radiation]]. Gamma rays can travel through thick materials.  

[[Cobalt]]-60 and [[potassium]]-40 are two [[isotopes]] that emit gamma rays. Cobalt-60 is created in accelerators and is used in hospitals. Potassium-40 occurs naturally. Small amounts of potassium-40 are in all plants and animals. Gamma rays from potassium-40 each have an energy of 1460 thousand [[electron volts]] (keV). 

Gamma rays and X-rays are now usually distinguished by their origin: X-rays are emitted by [[electron]]s outside the [[Nucleus (physics)|nucleus]], while gamma rays are emitted by the nucleus.<ref>Feynman, Richard; Robert Leighton, Matthew Sands 1963. ''The Feynman Lectures on Physics'', vol 1. USA: Addison-Wesley. pp2–5 ISBN 0201021161.</ref> 

== Gamma rays in medicine ==
Gamma rays can also go through the skin to kill cells, such as cancerous cells.
[[Medical doctor|Doctors]] can use machines which produce gamma rays in [[hospital]]s to treat people with some types of [[cancer]].<ref name=igcse >{{cite book|title=Edexcel IGCSE Physics Revision Guide|publisher=Pearson Education|date=2011|page=38|isbn=9780435046736|first=Steve|last=Woolley}}</ref>

Doctors also use gamma rays to find disease. In hospitals, doctors can give patients radioactive medicine which emits gamma rays. Doctors can find some types of disease by measuring gamma rays which come from a patient afterward. You can also use gamma rays to sterilise (clean) hospital material.<ref name=igcse />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Nuclear physics]]
{{Link GA|de}}

[[af:Gammastraal]]
[[ar:أشعة غاما]]
[[ast:Radiación gamma]]
[[bn:গামা রশ্মি]]
[[zh-min-nan:Gamma siā-soàⁿ]]
[[bg:Гама-лъчи]]
[[bs:Gama zračenje]]
[[ca:Radiació gamma]]
[[cs:Záření gama]]
[[da:Gammastråling]]
[[de:Gammastrahlung]]
[[et:Gammakiirgus]]
[[el:Ακτίνες γ]]
[[en:Gamma ray]]
[[es:Rayos gamma]]
[[eo:Gama-radiado]]
[[eu:Gamma izpi]]
[[fa:پرتو گاما]]
[[hif:Gamma ray]]
[[fr:Rayon gamma]]
[[gl:Radiación gamma]]
[[ko:감마선]]
[[hi:गामा किरण]]
[[hr:Gama-čestica]]
[[id:Sinar gamma]]
[[ia:Radiation gamma]]
[[is:Gammageisli]]
[[it:Raggi gamma]]
[[he:קרינת גמא]]
[[ka:გამა-გამოსხივება]]
[[kk:Гамма-сәулелер]]
[[ht:Reyon gama]]
[[la:Radiatio gamma]]
[[lv:Gamma stari]]
[[lt:Gama spinduliai]]
[[lij:Raggi gamma]]
[[hu:Gamma-sugárzás]]
[[mk:Гама зрачење]]
[[ml:ഗാമാ കിരണം]]
[[ms:Sinar gama]]
[[mn:Гамма цацраг]]
[[nl:Gammastraling]]
[[ja:ガンマ線]]
[[no:Gammastråling]]
[[nn:Gammastråling]]
[[pnb:گیما رے]]
[[nds:Gammastrahlen]]
[[pl:Promieniowanie gamma]]
[[pt:Radiação gama]]
[[ro:Radiație gamma]]
[[ru:Гамма-излучение]]
[[sk:Žiarenie gama]]
[[sl:Žarek gama]]
[[ckb:تیشکی گاما]]
[[sr:Гама зрачење]]
[[sh:Gama zračenje]]
[[su:Sinar gamma]]
[[fi:Gammasäteily]]
[[sv:Gammastrålning]]
[[tl:Sinag gamma]]
[[ta:காம்மா கதிர்]]
[[te:గామా కిరణం]]
[[th:รังสีแกมมา]]
[[tr:Gama ışını]]
[[uk:Гамма-промені]]
[[vi:Tia gamma]]
[[zh-yue:丙種射綫]]
[[bat-smg:Gama spėndolē]]
[[zh:伽马射线]]