alpha radiation
Noun
Meaning
the radiation of alpha particles during radioactive decay
Source: WordNetSynonyms
Hypernyms
Examples
For example, alpha radiation has low penetration and is not a hazard outside the body, but emitters are carcinogenic when inhaled or ingested.
Since U-238 has a much longer half-life than the lighter isotopes, DU emits less alpha radiation than natural uranium.
It has a half-life of 55.6 seconds and also emits alpha radiation.
It is more penetrating than alpha radiation, but less than gamma.
Its alpha radiation is rather weak – 1.45 × 10 -3 % with respect to the β-radiation – but is sometimes used to detect this isotope.
Nitrogen triiodide is so sensitive that it can be reliably detonated by exposure to alpha radiation ; it is the only explosive for which this is true.