Ionizing radiation through the photoelectric effect and the Compton effect. Either of those interactions will cause the ejection of an electron from an atom at relativistic speeds, turning that electron into a beta particle (secondary beta particle) that will ionize many other atoms. Since most of the affected atoms are ionized directly by the secondary beta particles, photons are called indirectly ionizing radiation. Photon radiation is called gamma rays if produced by a nuclear reaction, subatomic particle decay, or radioactive decay within the nucleus. It is otherwise called x-rays if produced outside the nucleus. The generic term photon is therefore used to
Radiation sensitivity of the radiation effect depends on the stability of the induced physical and chemical change. Physical radiation effects depending on diffusion properties can be thermally annealed whereby the original structure of the material is recovered. Chemical radiation effects usually cannot be recovered. Radiation sensitivity Radiation sensitivity is the susceptibility of a material to physical or chemical changes induced by radiation (see also: radiation effect). Examples of radiation sensitive materials are silver chloride, photoresists and biomaterials. Pine trees are more radiation susceptible than birch due to the complexity of the pine DNA in comparison to the birch. Examples of radiation insensitive