Ionizing radiation

Ionizing radiation carries enough energy to remove electrons from atoms or molecules, producing ions. It includes energetic particles and electromagnetic waves.

Photoelectric effect: An interaction in which a photon transfers its energy to an electron, ejecting it from an atom. It explains how X-rays and gamma rays can eject bound electrons.
Electromagnetic radiation: Energy transmitted through space as coupled electric and magnetic fields. X-rays and gamma rays are electromagnetic forms of ionizing radiation.
Radiography: Imaging that forms pictures from differences in how materials transmit penetrating radiation. X-ray radiography uses attenuation of ionizing photons to reveal internal structure.
DNA damage: A structural alteration to DNA caused by chemical, physical, or biological agents. Ionizing radiation can damage DNA directly or through reactive chemical species.
Non-ionizing radiation: Radiation that lacks sufficient energy per interaction to ionize atoms or molecules. It contrasts with radiation defined by its ability to remove electrons.
Compton scattering: A collision in which a photon transfers part of its energy to an electron and changes direction. It is a major way energetic photons transfer energy to matter.
Alpha particle: A helium-4 nucleus consisting of two protons and two neutrons. Its charge and mass make it strongly ionizing over a short range.
Computed tomography: A medical imaging method that reconstructs cross-sectional images from measurements taken at many angles. It combines multiple X-ray projections to map internal anatomy.
Radiation sickness: Acute illness caused by a sufficiently large dose of ionizing radiation over a short period. It follows widespread cellular injury after intense exposure.
Radioactive decay: The spontaneous transformation of an unstable atomic nucleus into a more stable state. It is one source of ionizing radiation, but ionizing radiation also comes from other sources.

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