Which type of radioactive particle is described as a high energy photon of light?

The correct answer is gamma ray, which is a type of electromagnetic radiation, specifically a high-energy photon. Gamma rays are produced in nuclear reactions and are characterized by their very short wavelength and high frequency, resulting in high energy. Unlike alpha particles and beta particles, which are charged particles (alpha particles are helium nuclei and beta particles are high-energy electrons or positrons), gamma rays do not carry any charge and can penetrate materials much more effectively due to their non-particle nature. Neutrons, while also neutral like gamma rays, are not electromagnetic radiation but rather subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom. This distinction makes gamma rays unique among the options provided.