Irradiation refers to the process of exposing something to radiation, typically for sterilization purposes or for inducing specific changes in its properties. In the context of research, irradiation is often used in the fields of materials science, physics, chemistry, and biology to study the effects of radiation on different materials, organisms, or systems. This can help researchers understand the behavior of materials under extreme conditions, develop new materials with specific properties, or investigate the impact of radiation on living organisms. Irradiation research can involve various types of radiation sources, such as gamma rays, X-rays, electron beams, or ion beams.