Definition of Alpha rays
1.
(Physics & Chem.)
Rays
of
relatively
low
penetrating
power
emitted
by
radium
and
other
radioactive
substances
,
and
shown
to
consist
of
positively
charged
alpha particles
(
helium
nuclei
)
having
enormous
velocities
but
small
masses
.
They
are
slightly
deflected
by
a
strong
magnetic
or
electric
field
.
Compare
beta
ray
and
gamma
ray
.
Because
the
rays
penetrate
only
a
small
distance
in
dense
matter
such
as
living
tissue
,
small
pellets
of
radioactive
substances
emitting
alpha
rays
have
been
used
to
cause
local
destruction
of
tissue
,
as
in
cancer
therapy
.
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