Types of radioactive source

Abstract

In chapter 2, radioactivity was defined as the spontaneous change of one nuclide into another with the emission of radiation. The nuclides are said to be radioactive and the transformation process is referred to as radioactive decay. Radioactive decay can be accompanied by the emission of different types of radiation, the most common being alpha, beta and gamma radiation. These are identified by the Greek letters α, β and γ respectively. But what are alpha, beta and gamma radiation?