Main Difference – X-Rays vs. Gamma Rays
Both X-Rays and gamma rays refer to waves in the electromagnetic spectrum. Due to the principle of wave-particle duality, these waves can also be thought of as “particles” called photons. X-rays typically have longer wavelengths than gamma, but this is not always the case: sometimes, waves of similar wavelengths may be referred to as “X-rays” or “gamma”. There is no consensus on how to precisely differentiate between X-rays and gamma rays. However, they are often differentiated using their origin. In this sense, the main difference between X-rays and gamma rays is that gamma rays are produced during nuclear decay by nuclei of atoms, whereas X-rays are produced by electrons. For instance, for medical purposes, X-rays are produced by accelerating some electrons and then making them collide with a metal target.
What are X-Rays
In the electromagnetic spectrum, X-rays sit between ultraviolet and gamma waves. X-rays are ionizing, so exposure to X-rays could technically cause cancer. However, the chance of this happening when one is exposed to low intensities of X-rays infrequently is very low.
Most of us are familiar with he use of X-rays for medical imaging. When a photographic film is exposed to X-rays, the film darkens. X-rays can pass through the human body, but different parts of the human body absorb X-rays by different amounts. For instance, bones absorb X-rays more than the tissues that surround them. So, when X-rays are made to pass through the body and then onto a photographic plate, an image will be formed, depending on how much the X-rays get absorbed as they travel through different parts of the body.
An X-ray photograph of a human hand
What are Gamma Rays
Gamma rays are produced by radioactive nuclei. After a radioactive nucleus undergoes alpha or beta radiation, the nucleus is left in an “excited” state. The nucleus then loses the excess energy by emitting a gamma photon.
Gamma rays are typically more energetic than X-rays, so they have more ionizing power compared to X-rays. Gamma rays are used to sterilize medical equipment or to kill cancer cells in radiotherapy. Compared to alpha and beta radiation, they have a higher level of penetration, which makes gamma rays useful for medical imaging, as well. For imaging, a gamma source is introduced into the patient’s body and using a gamma camera, the gamma radiation coming out of the person’s body is detected. Cancer cells take up the gamma-emitting substance differently to normal cells, so using the gamma camera allows to locate the position of a cancer cell accurately. PET scans also depend on the detection of gamma rays.
Difference Between X-Rays and Gamma Rays
Production
X-rays are produced when energetic electrons lose energy.
Gamma rays are produced by radioactive nuclei.
Wavelength
X-rays have a larger wavelength (and hence a smaller frequency) than gamma.
Energy
X-ray photons carry more energy than gamma photons. Therefore, gamma rays have a stronger ionizing ability.
Penetration
X-rays have less penetrating power compared to gamma rays.
References
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. (2012, January 13). ARPANSA – Gamma Radiation. Retrieved September 11, 2015, from Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)
Image Courtesy
“Handskelett im Röntgenbild” by Hellerhoff (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
