GammaQuellen

Gammaquellen are sources that emit gamma radiation. They can be natural or artificial and are used in medicine, industry, science, and research. Gamma photons are high-energy photons with energies typically ranging from tens of keV to several MeV. Common gamma lines come from specific isotopes, such as americium-241 (about 59.5 keV), cesium-137 (0.662 MeV), and cobalt-60 (1.17 and 1.33 MeV). Sealed gamma sources are encapsulated in robust capsules to prevent dispersion of radioactive material; unsealed sources pose greater radiological risk.

Gamma sources arise from radioactive decay of parent nuclides or from engineered production. Well-known artificial gamma sources include cobalt-60, cesium-137, iridium-192, and americium-241. They are manufactured into sealed sources for radiography, irradiation, or detector calibration. Natural gamma sources originate from primordial radionuclides in the earth and from cosmic gamma rays; in astrophysics, gamma-ray sources also describe objects such as pulsars, supernova remnants, and active galactic nuclei that emit high-energy photons.

Applications and usage: In medicine, gamma sources are used in diagnostic imaging (for example SPECT) and in radiotherapy. In industry, sealed sources support nondestructive testing and material irradiation. In science, they serve as calibration standards for detectors and as components of experimental setups.

Safety and regulation: Gamma radiation penetrates matter, requiring shielding, distance, and time management. Handling, transport, storage, and disposal are strictly regulated by authorities, with licensing, routine inspections, and leak testing for sealed sources.