What process involves a metastable isotope releasing energy via gamma ray?

In nuclear physics, isomeric transition refers to a process in which a metastable isotope, which is in an excited state, transitions to a lower energy state or the ground state by emitting energy in the form of gamma radiation. During this transition, the nucleus decreases its energy level without changing the number of protons or neutrons.

This process is significant in various applications, such as in medical imaging and radiation therapy, where gamma rays can be detected and utilized for diagnostic purposes or treatment. The emitted gamma rays are highly penetrating and can provide detailed information about the distribution of the radioactive isotopes in a given area, making isomeric transitions a vital concept in both nuclear medicine and PET imaging.

In contrast, other processes such as electron capture involve the capture of an inner orbital electron by the nucleus, leading to a transformation of a proton into a neutron and the emission of a neutrino, but not directly involving gamma emission from isomeric states. Nuclear fission refers to the splitting of a heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei, generating energy alongside neutrons, while bremsstrahlung is the radiation emitted when charged particles are accelerated, typically in the context of interactions with matter, rather than a nucleus transitioning from an excited state. This gives clear differentiation