TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
DECAY GAMMA RADIATION [8 records]
Record 1 - external organization data 2014-11-04
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Compartment - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- spray cooling 1, record 1, English, spray%20cooling
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Spray cooling [removes] heat produced by decay gamma radiation. 1, record 1, English, - spray%20cooling
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Tiroir - Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- refroidissement par aspersion
1, record 1, French, refroidissement%20par%20aspersion
masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Le refroidissement par aspersion [permet] d'évacuer la chaleur produite par la désintégration gamma. 1, record 1, French, - refroidissement%20par%20aspersion
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2012-02-16
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Atomic Physics
- Meteorology
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- corpuscular radiation
1, record 2, English, corpuscular%20radiation
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- particulate radiation 2, record 2, English, particulate%20radiation
correct
- particle radiation 3, record 2, English, particle%20radiation
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Radiation consisting of subatomic particles, such as electrons, protons, deuterons, and neutrons, as distinguished from electromagnetic radiation. 4, record 2, English, - corpuscular%20radiation
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The word radiation is commonly used in several distinct although related senses.-First, it is a term for the process by which energy is transferred and is able to exert an effect at a distance without the need for any physical connection between source and receiver. In this broad sense, radiation includes energy transfer both by electromagnetic waves(as in the case of gamma rays, ultra-violet rays or radio waves) and by energetic particles(such as alpha or beta particles emitted from nuclei in the process of radioactive decay). The more precise terms "electromagnetic radiation" and "particulate radiation" differentiate between these two phenomena. 2, record 2, English, - corpuscular%20radiation
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Physique atomique
- Météorologie
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- rayonnement corpusculaire
1, record 2, French, rayonnement%20corpusculaire
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- rayonnement particulaire 2, record 2, French, rayonnement%20particulaire
correct, masculine noun
- radiation corpusculaire 3, record 2, French, radiation%20corpusculaire
see observation, feminine noun
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Rayonnement considéré comme formé essentiellement par des particules telles que électrons, protons, neutrons, noyaux. 3, record 2, French, - rayonnement%20corpusculaire
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
«rayonnement» : Transport d'énergie et de quantité de mouvement dans le vide ou dans un milieu matériel. On distingue les rayonnements ondulatoires qui ne s'accompagnent pas de transport de matière (ondes élastiques et électromagnétiques) et les rayonnements corpusculaires dans lesquels se propagent des particules douées de masse. 4, record 2, French, - rayonnement%20corpusculaire
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Normalement, la distinction à faire entre «radiation» et «rayonnement» est la suivante : «radiation» se rapporte à une émission d'énergie, tandis que «rayonnement» se rapporte à son transport, à sa propagation. Le Grand dictionnaire encyclopédique Larousse, cependant, les distingue autrement. 5, record 2, French, - rayonnement%20corpusculaire
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Les deux mots «radiation» et «rayonnement» ne représentent pas des notions complètement distinctes; le premier est employé de préférence lorsque l'on considère essentiellement l'aspect corpusculaire, le second désignant surtout l'aspect ondulatoire électromagnétique. Les radiations corpusculaires sont constituées par le mouvement de particules (électrons, protons, neutrons, noyaux) animées de vitesses qui peuvent être très grandes, mais toujours inférieures à la vitesse de la lumière dans le vide. 3, record 2, French, - rayonnement%20corpusculaire
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Física atómica
- Meteorología
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- radiación corpuscular
1, record 2, Spanish, radiaci%C3%B3n%20corpuscular
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
- radiación de partículas 2, record 2, Spanish, radiaci%C3%B3n%20de%20part%C3%ADculas
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Radiación formada por partículas, diferente de la radiación electromagnética. 3, record 2, Spanish, - radiaci%C3%B3n%20corpuscular
Record 3 - internal organization data 2011-10-28
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Electromagnetic Radiation
- Electrical Engineering
- Radiological Physics (Theory and Application)
- Weapon Systems
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- electromagnetic radiation
1, record 3, English, electromagnetic%20radiation
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
- EMR 2, record 3, English, EMR
correct
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Radiation made up of oscillating electric and magnetic fields and propagated with the speed of light. 3, record 3, English, - electromagnetic%20radiation
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The word radiation is commonly used in several distinct although related senses. First, it is a term for the process by which energy is transferred and is able to exert an effect at a distance without the need for any physical connection between source and receiver. In this broad sense, radiation includes energy transfer both by electromagnetic waves(as in the case of gamma rays, ultra-violet rays or radio waves) and by energetic particles(such as alpha or beta particles emitted from nuclei in the process of radioactive decay). The more precise terms "electromagnetic radiation" and "particulate radiation" differentiate between these two phenomena. 4, record 3, English, - electromagnetic%20radiation
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Electromagnetic radiation differs from other forms, such as alpha radiation, beta radiation and neutron radiation in that photons have zero charge and zero mass. 5, record 3, English, - electromagnetic%20radiation
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Includes gamma radiation, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation, and radar and radio waves. 3, record 3, English, - electromagnetic%20radiation
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Rayonnements électromagnétiques
- Électrotechnique
- Physique radiologique et applications
- Systèmes d'armes
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- rayonnement électromagnétique
1, record 3, French, rayonnement%20%C3%A9lectromagn%C3%A9tique
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
- REM 2, record 3, French, REM
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Synonyms, French
- radiation électromagnétique 3, record 3, French, radiation%20%C3%A9lectromagn%C3%A9tique
see observation, feminine noun
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Rayonnement caractérisé par des ondes électromagnétiques, ou éventuellement par des photons associés. 4, record 3, French, - rayonnement%20%C3%A9lectromagn%C3%A9tique
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
La gamme des longueurs d'onde des rayonnements électromagnétiques est très étendue depuis les rayons cosmiques jusqu'aux ondes hertziennes en passant par les rayons gamma, les rayons X, la lumière ultraviolette, le visible et l'infrarouge. 5, record 3, French, - rayonnement%20%C3%A9lectromagn%C3%A9tique
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Les deux mots «radiation» et «rayonnement» ne représentent pas des notions complètement distinctes; le premier est employé de préférence lorsque l'on considère essentiellement l'aspect corpusculaire, le second désignant surtout l'aspect ondulatoire électromagnétique. 6, record 3, French, - rayonnement%20%C3%A9lectromagn%C3%A9tique
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Radiación electromagnética
- Electrotecnia
- Física radiológica (Teoría y aplicación)
- Sistemas de armas
Record 3, Main entry term, Spanish
- radiación electromagnética
1, record 3, Spanish, radiaci%C3%B3n%20electromagn%C3%A9tica
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 3, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - external organization data 2011-04-27
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Chemistry
- Nuclear Physics
- Compartment - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Universal entry(ies) Record 4
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- thorium-232
1, record 4, English, thorium%2D232
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
- thorium 232 2, record 4, English, thorium%20232
obsolete
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Thorium(chemical symbol Th) is a naturally-occurring radioactive metal found at very low levels in soil, rocks, and water. It has several different isotopes, both natural and man-made, all of which are radioactive. The most common form of thorium is thorium-232, found naturally.... Thorium-232 has a half-life of 14 billion(14 x 109) years, and decays by alpha emission, with accompanying gamma radiation. Thorium-232 is the top of a long decay series that contains key radionuclides such as radium-228, its direct decay product, and radon-220.... The half-life of thorium-232 is about 14 billion years. 3, record 4, English, - thorium%2D232
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
thorium-232;232Th: term and symbol recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (UIPAC). 4, record 4, English, - thorium%2D232
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 2 OBS
thorium 232; Th232: obsolete term and symbol. 4, record 4, English, - thorium%2D232
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Chimie
- Physique nucléaire
- Tiroir - Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire
Entrée(s) universelle(s) Record 4
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- thorium-232
1, record 4, French, thorium%2D232
correct, see observation, masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
- thorium 232 2, record 4, French, thorium%20232
correct, masculine noun, obsolete
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les radioéléments primordiaux sont le potassium 40, l'uranium 238 et le thorium 232 qui ont respectivement zéro, treize et dix descendants radioactifs principaux. 2, record 4, French, - thorium%2D232
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
thorium-232;232Th : terme et symbole recommandés par l'Union internationale de chimie pure et appliquée (UICPA). 3, record 4, French, - thorium%2D232
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 2 OBS
thorium 232; Th232 : terme et symbole vieillis. 3, record 4, French, - thorium%2D232
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Química
- Física nuclear
- Compartimiento - Comisión Canadiense de Seguridad Nuclear
Entrada(s) universal(es) Record 4
Record 4, Main entry term, Spanish
- torio 232
1, record 4, Spanish, torio%20232
correct, masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 4, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - external organization data 2006-01-25
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Heat (Physics)
- Nuclear Fission Reactors
- Compartment - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- heat source 1, record 5, English, heat%20source
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
[The] three main moderator heat sources [are at] full reactor power... : a) The prompt radiation from fission(neutrons and gamma rays) produce 70% to 80% of the heat in the moderator. The neutrons typically contribute more than half of this.... b) gamma rays from fission product decay and from decay of activation products in reactor components produce 15% to 25% of the heat in the moderator. This heat decreases slowly after a reactor shut down. c) Conventional heating(conduction, convection, thermal radiation and friction) accounts for about 3% to 5% of moderator heating. 1, record 5, English, - heat%20source
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Chaleur (Physique)
- Réacteurs nucléaires de fission
- Tiroir - Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- source du réchauffement
1, record 5, French, source%20du%20r%C3%A9chauffement
feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
- source chaude 1, record 5, French, source%20chaude
feminine noun
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Connaître les trois sources principales du réchauffement du modérateur. [...] Lorsque le réacteur fonctionne à pleine puissance, les sources chaudes du modérateur sont : a) Le rayonnement prompt imputable à la fission (neutrons et rayons gamma) produit 70 % à 80 % de la chaleur dans le modérateur. Les neutrons contribuent habituellement à plus de la moitié de cette chaleur. [...] b) Les rayons gamma issus de la désintégration des produits de fission et de la désintégration des produits d'activation dans les composants de réacteur produisent entre 15 % et 25 % de la chaleur dans le modérateur. Cette chaleur diminue lentement après la mise à l'arrêt du réacteur. c) Le chauffage classique (conduction, convexion, rayonnement thermique et frottement) représente environ 3 % à 5 % du chauffage du modérateur. 1, record 5, French, - source%20du%20r%C3%A9chauffement
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record 6 - external organization data 2005-08-17
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- Radiological Physics (Theory and Application)
- Atomic Physics
- Nuclear Fission Reactors
- Compartment - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- decay gamma radiation 1, record 6, English, decay%20gamma%20radiation
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
Record 6, Textual support, English
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Heating by decay gamma radiation comes mostly from decay of fission products in the fuel. 1, record 6, English, - decay%20gamma%20radiation
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Physique radiologique et applications
- Physique atomique
- Réacteurs nucléaires de fission
- Tiroir - Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- rayonnement gamma de désintégration
1, record 6, French, rayonnement%20gamma%20de%20d%C3%A9sint%C3%A9gration
masculine noun
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Le chauffage par rayonnement gamma de désintégration provient principalement de la désintégration des produits de fission dans le combustible. 1, record 6, French, - rayonnement%20gamma%20de%20d%C3%A9sint%C3%A9gration
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Record 7 - internal organization data 2001-09-27
Record 7, English
Record 7, Subject field(s)
- Atomic Physics
- Electromagnetic Radiation
- Soil Science
Record 7, Main entry term, English
- gamma photon
1, record 7, English, gamma%20photon
correct
Record 7, Abbreviations, English
Record 7, Synonyms, English
- gamma ray photon 2, record 7, English, gamma%20ray%20photon
correct
Record 7, Textual support, English
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The method by which incident radiation interacts with the medium to cause ionization may be direct or indirect. Electromagnetic radiations (X rays and gamma photons) are indirectly ionizing; that is, they give up their energy in various interactions with cellular molecules, and the energy is then utilized to produce a fast-moving charged particle such as an electron. It is the electron that then secondarily may react with a target molecule. Charged particles, in contrast, strike the tissue or medium and directly react with target molecules, such as oxygen or water. These particulate radiations are directly ionizing radiations. 1, record 7, English, - gamma%20photon
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 2 CONT
The third step is to fuse two tritium nuclei into one helium and two proton products. The end result of fusing four hydrogen nuclei (protons) is one helium nucleus, and two gamma ray photons, and two electron neutrinos, and kinetic heat energy. 2, record 7, English, - gamma%20photon
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Gamma rays : A very penetrating electromagnetic radiation emitted from a nucleus of an atom during radioactive decay. Radiation : An emission of energy in the form of photons(gamma, x-rays) or particles(alpha, beta, positron, neutron radiation). Photon : A type of radiation in the form of an electromagnetic wave, having zero mass and zero charge. 3, record 7, English, - gamma%20photon
Record 7, Key term(s)
- gamma photon
Record 7, French
Record 7, Domaine(s)
- Physique atomique
- Rayonnements électromagnétiques
- Science du sol
Record 7, Main entry term, French
- photon gamma
1, record 7, French, photon%20gamma
correct, masculine noun
Record 7, Abbreviations, French
Record 7, Synonyms, French
Record 7, Textual support, French
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les photons gamma très pénétrants permettent de réaliser de véritables radiographies des matériaux les plus denses. Cette technique [gammamétrie] est appliquée depuis quelques années à la détermination de la densité et de l'humidité des sols. 1, record 7, French, - photon%20gamma
Record 7, Spanish
Record 7, Textual support, Spanish
Record 8 - internal organization data 1996-03-22
Record 8, English
Record 8, Subject field(s)
- Atomic Physics
- Nuclear Physics
Record 8, Main entry term, English
- energetic particle
1, record 8, English, energetic%20particle
correct
Record 8, Abbreviations, English
Record 8, Synonyms, English
Record 8, Textual support, English
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 CONT
... radiation includes energy transfer both by electromagnetic waves gas in the case of gamma rays, ultra-violet rays or radio waves) and by energetic particles(such as alpha or beta particles emitted from nuclei in the process of radioactive decay). 2, record 8, English, - energetic%20particle
Record 8, French
Record 8, Domaine(s)
- Physique atomique
- Physique nucléaire
Record 8, Main entry term, French
- particule énergétique
1, record 8, French, particule%20%C3%A9nerg%C3%A9tique
feminine noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, French
Record 8, Synonyms, French
- particule d'énergie 2, record 8, French, particule%20d%27%C3%A9nergie
feminine noun
Record 8, Textual support, French
Record 8, Spanish
Record 8, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Física atómica
- Física nuclear
Record 8, Main entry term, Spanish
- partícula de energía
1, record 8, Spanish, part%C3%ADcula%20de%20energ%C3%ADa
correct, feminine noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 8, Synonyms, Spanish
- partícula energética 1, record 8, Spanish, part%C3%ADcula%20energ%C3%A9tica
correct, feminine noun
Record 8, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: