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Beta rays refer to the streams of beta particles emitted from radioactive sources during beta decay.

Characteristics of Beta Rays:

  1. Nature:
  • Beta rays are streams of beta particles emitted from the nucleus of a radioactive atom undergoing beta decay.
  1. Composition:
  • Beta rays consist of beta particles, which are either electrons (β⁻) or positrons (β⁺) emitted during the decay process.
  1. Energy Spectrum:
  • Beta rays are emitted with a range of energies, typically from a few keV (kilo-electron volts) to several MeV (mega-electron volts), depending on the radioactive isotope and the specific decay mode.
  1. Behavior in Matter:
  • Beta particles in beta rays interact with matter through ionization and excitation processes.
  • They lose energy gradually as they penetrate material, with higher energy beta particles penetrating deeper than lower energy ones.
  1. Detection:
  • Beta rays can be detected using various radiation detection devices, such as Geiger-Müller counters, scintillation detectors, and proportional counters.
  • These detectors register the ionization and excitation caused by beta particles as they interact with the detector material.

Applications of Beta Rays:

  • Medical Applications: Beta-emitting isotopes are used in medical treatments, such as brachytherapy, to deliver radiation doses to targeted tissues.
  • Industrial and Research Uses: Beta rays are utilized in industrial radiography, thickness gauging, and material analysis in research and industry.
  • Environmental Monitoring: Beta radiation detectors are used to measure contamination levels in environmental samples and radioactive waste.

Safety Considerations:

  • Proper handling and shielding are necessary when working with beta-emitting sources to minimize exposure risks.
  • Beta rays, like other forms of ionizing radiation, can be harmful if exposure is not controlled or if safety protocols are not followed.

Beta rays, emitted as streams of beta particles during radioactive decay, are valuable in various applications, providing essential tools for medical treatments, research, and radiation detection and measurement.

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