Alpha...Beta...Gamma...?

Question

There are three known degrees of radiation; light, radio waves and x-rays, denoted by the greek letters alpha, beta and gamma.
The fourth letter is Delta. What I'm asking is, do you think that there is another type (degree) of ultraviolent radiation that exists within earth's atmosphere that we simply haven't detected yet or simply don't have the means to? Would it be called delta radiation?

Answer 1

I think you might have some confusion about radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum. When physicists refer to alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, they are not typically referring to slices out of the electromagnetic spectrum. Alpha radiation is actually helium nuclei. Beta radiation is a high energy electron. Gamma radiation is a high energy photon. Only gamma radiation is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. As far as classifying the bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, gamma rays are near or at the top of the energy scale. There are names for the lower energy bands in the spectrum, but they aren't called alpha or beta radiations. They are called things like X-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves, radiowaves, etc. However, they are all electromagnetic radiation. They are not alpha or beta radiation. There may be further divisions of each band. For example, sometimes, ultraviolet radiation may be further distinguished as ultraviolet A or ultraviolet B or extreme ultraviolet, but they are still ultraviolet. They are not alpha or beta radiation either.

It is theoretically possible that there exists other types of radiation that could be labeled delta radiation. If a need arises to specifically label some new radiation, I suppose they will go to the next letter in line. I'm not aware of one currently though. In any case, it will be unlikely that some slice of the electromagnetic spectrum will be called delta radiation. The entire spectrum is pretty much all labeled up already.

Answer 2

I don't think so, simply because "Gamma rays" encompass any form of radiation that has a wavelength smaller than 0.03 nanometers (I think that's the figure, I'm not sure). Anything smaller (and thus, higher-energy) than that would still be gamma radiation. The smallest waves that scientists have been able to detect (to my knowledge) are those with wavelengths of 0.003 nm (1/10th the size of the lower-frequency gamma rays).

Answer 3

It's been some years since college, but I believe there is one wave, if the space between peaks is short, it is Gama, if it is long, it is radio.... so the wave length can vary along the wave. Lightning for instance, we see the light and hear the sound from the same wave.... I also was born 6/6/66!!!

Answer 4

light, radio waves and xrays are all part of the electromagnetic spectrum (ie radiation).

there are already more than 3 classifications of radiation.

see here.
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/emspectrum.html

and here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum

Answer 5

What I want to know is why they skipped out C, D, E and F

Answer 6

I don't really have an answer I just want the points