What is the term for high frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from an atom's nucleus?

High frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from an atom's nucleus is referred to as a gamma ray. Gamma rays are produced during radioactive decay when an unstable nucleus releases energy to reach a more stable state. They have very short wavelengths and high energy, which means they can penetrate materials more effectively than other forms of radiation, such as X-rays.

In contrast, X-rays are also high-energy radiation but originate from electron transitions outside of the nucleus and are typically used in medical imaging rather than being a product of nuclear decay. Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted from the nucleus during decay processes, while alpha particles are heavy, positively charged particles composed of two protons and two neutrons, also emitted from the nucleus, but neither beta nor alpha particles are forms of electromagnetic radiation. The characteristics of gamma rays make them distinct in their origin and nature as nuclear emissions.