Delayed nuclear radiation

Delayed nuclear radiation can occur in a nuclear decay. It happens when an isotope decays into a very short-lived isotope and then decays again to a relatively long-lived isotope. The short-lived isotope is usually a meta-stable nuclear isomer.

For example, Gallium-73 decays via beta decay into Germanium-73m which is very short-lived. The Geranium isomer emits two weak gamma rays and a conversion electron.

\mathrm{{}^{73}Ga}\rightarrow\mathrm{{}^{73m}Ge}+\mathrm{\gamma{}^{}_{297}}+\mathrm{\gamma{}^{}_{325}}\rightarrow\mathrm{{}^{73}Ge}+\mathrm{\gamma{}^{}_{53}}+\mathrm{\gamma{}^{}_{13}}+\mathrm{e}^-

Because the middle isotope is so short-lived, the gamma rays are considered part of the Arsenic decay. Therefore the above equation is simplified.

\mathrm{{}^{73}Ga}\rightarrow\mathrm{{}^{73}Ge}+\mathrm{\gamma{}^{}_{297}}+\mathrm{\gamma{}^{}_{325}}+\mathrm{\gamma{}^{}_{53}}+\mathrm{\gamma{}^{}_{13}}+\mathrm{e}^-

However, since there is a short time delay between the beta decay and the high engery gamma emissions and the third and fourth gamma rays, it is said that the lower engergy gamma rays are delayed.

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See also: Delayed nuclear radiation, Beta decay, Conversion electron, Gamma ray, Nuclear isomer, Physics, Gallium-73