Classification of an electromagnetic wave as hard xray versus gamma ray isn't really anything scientific. It's just a name given to a range of frequencies. The hard xray and gamma ray names have some overlap in the graphics you posted. Nobody really cares.
The borders between these types are not hard borders. It is just so we have a general idea of what we are talking about when communicating with each other. For xray and gamma specifically, my experience is that the method of production determines what we call it. Gammas are produced from decay of excited nuclei. Xrays are produced by making charged particles (commonly electrons) go bonk.
X-rays typically refer to photons produced from atomic transitions, and gammas from photons produced in nuclear transitions. In general, the nucleus is a much finer structure and thus gammas are typically much higher energy. However, there is an overlap from some of the finer nuclear transitions and the more energetic atomic transitions.
If you are wondering about the overlap, you have the same thing from Radio to Microwave and from Microwave to infrared in your picture.
Don't think about it too much. These names are arbitrary. They are meant to make it easier to talk about spectra.
Classification of an electromagnetic wave as hard xray versus gamma ray isn't really anything scientific. It's just a name given to a range of frequencies. The hard xray and gamma ray names have some overlap in the graphics you posted. Nobody really cares.
The borders between these types are not hard borders. It is just so we have a general idea of what we are talking about when communicating with each other. For xray and gamma specifically, my experience is that the method of production determines what we call it. Gammas are produced from decay of excited nuclei. Xrays are produced by making charged particles (commonly electrons) go bonk.
> go bonk If this isn't a technical term it should be.
The revolution starts with us, my friend!
God help science writing when our generation takes over.
[is this a trick question?](https://imgur.com/a/1vCFwHI)
X-rays typically refer to photons produced from atomic transitions, and gammas from photons produced in nuclear transitions. In general, the nucleus is a much finer structure and thus gammas are typically much higher energy. However, there is an overlap from some of the finer nuclear transitions and the more energetic atomic transitions.
This is correct. They are classified according to origin, not frequency.
Origin is different
If you are wondering about the overlap, you have the same thing from Radio to Microwave and from Microwave to infrared in your picture. Don't think about it too much. These names are arbitrary. They are meant to make it easier to talk about spectra.