The emission of gamma rays, alpha rays, and beta rays is a characteristic of what process?

The emission of gamma rays, alpha rays, and beta rays is characteristic of the process known as source decay. This decay refers to the transformation of unstable atomic nuclei into more stable forms, which often involves the release of energy in the form of radiation.

In source decay, when an unstable nucleus breaks down, it can emit different types of radiation. Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation, beta rays are fast-moving electrons or positrons, and alpha rays consist of helium nuclei. This process is fundamental to understanding radioactive decay and the behaviors of different radioactive materials.

Other processes listed, such as nuclear fusion, involve the merging of nuclei under extreme conditions rather than their decay, while chemical reactions deal with the rearrangement of bonds between atoms, which does not involve changes in the nucleus or the emission of radiation. Radiation shielding refers to methods used to protect against radiation exposure and is not a decay process itself. Thus, the correct answer aligns with the phenomenon of radioactive decay that produces the various forms of radiation mentioned.