PART IV.
The γ or very penetrating Rays.
105. In addition to the [Greek: alpha] and β rays, the three active substances,
uranium, thorium, and radium, all give out a radiation of
an extraordinarily penetrating character. These γ rays are considerably
more penetrating than the X rays produced in a "hard"
vacuum tube. Their presence can readily be observed for an active
substance like radium, but is difficult to detect for uranium and
thorium unless a large quantity of active material is used.
Villard[1], using the photographic method, first drew attention to the fact that radium gave out these very penetrating rays, and found that they were non-deviable by a magnetic field. This result was confirmed by Becquerel[2].
Using a few milligrams of radium bromide, the γ rays can be detected in a dark room by the luminosity they excite in the mineral willemite or a screen of platinocyanide of barium. The [Greek: alpha] and β rays are completely absorbed by placing a thickness of 1 centimetre of lead over the radium, and the rays which then pass through the lead consist entirely of γ rays. The very great penetrating power of these rays is easily observed by noting the slight diminution of the luminosity of the screen when plates of metal several centimetres thick are placed between the radium and the screen. These rays also produce ionization in gases and are best investigated by the electrical method. The presence of the γ rays from 30 mgrs. of radium bromide can be observed in an electroscope after passing through 30 cms. of iron.
106. Absorption of the γ rays. In an examination of the
active substances by the electrical method, the writer[3] found that
both uranium and thorium gave out γ rays in amount roughly
proportional to their activity. An electroscope of the type shown
in Fig. 12 was employed. This was placed on a large lead plate
·65 cm. thick the active substance being placed in a closed vessel
beneath.
