Radiolysis is the dissociation of molecules by nuclear radiation. It is the cleavage of one or several chemical bonds resulting from exposure to high-energy flux. The radiation in this context is associated with radioactive decay; radiolysis is therefore distinguished from, for example, photolysis of the Cl2 molecule into two Cl-radicals, where (ultraviolet) or visible light is used.
For example water dissociates under alpha radiation into a hydrogen radical and a hydroxyl radical, unlike ionization of water which produces a hydrogen ion and a hydroxide ion. The chemistry of concentrated solutions under ionizing radiation is extremely complex. Radiolysis can locally modify redox conditions, and therefore the speciation and the solubility of the compounds. Wikipedia, Radiolysis
See Also
Atomic Cluster X-Ray Emission
Dissociation
Law of Variation of Atomic Pitch by Rad-energy
Rad-energy
Water Radiolysis
15.08 - Dissociating Water with X-Rays - Radiolysis