radiation processing
industry
Learn about this topic in these articles:
major reference
- In radiation: High-energy radiation
…and synthesizing materials, known as radiation processing, represents a minor yet significant technology. It involves irradiating materials either with a beam of electrons produced by a high-voltage particle accelerator or with gamma rays emitted by the radioisotope cobalt-16 or, in a few cases, cesium-137. The electrons are generally accelerated to…
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use in gemstones
- In treated gem
Irradiation of certain gemstones also causes colour changes. Some colourless diamonds become green, rose quartz becomes brown, and decolourized amethyst regains its purple hue. These colour changes are not always permanent, and the stone may become radioactive.
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