what happens in gamma decay

Gamma decay is a type of radioactive decay that a nucleus can undergo. In this process, a nucleus changes from a higher energy state to a lower energy state through the emission of electromagnetic radiation, specifically gamma rays/07%3A_Radioactive_Decay_Part_II/7.01%3A_Gamma_Decay). Unlike alpha or beta decay, no charged particles are ejected from the nucleus during gamma decay. Instead, the high-energy gamma ray photon is released, carrying away the excess energy in order to stabilize the unstable nucleus. The number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus does not change during gamma decay, so the parent and daughter atoms are the same chemical element. The emitted photon and recoiling nucleus each have a well-defined energy after the decay, and the characteristic energy is divided between only two particles. In order for a nucleus to undergo gamma decay, it must be in some sort of excited energetic state.