What Is Radiation?

This chapter provides a summary of the fundamental principles and primary sources of ionizing radiation. It briefly revisits ionization processes in materials, delving into the essential laws governing spontaneous radioactivity and radioactive decay. The content explores various types of radioactive processes, including alpha, beta and gamma decay, as well as the significance of spontaneous fission and neutron emission. Additionally, cosmic radiation is discussed, with an emphasis on distinguishing between the hard and soft components in secondary cosmic rays. The chapter also addresses the issue of radiation damage, presenting the basic concepts and the units adopted to characterize the dose delivered to materials or living beings.