continuous and characteristic x ray spectrum pdf

In copper, the Kα transition has an energy of 8.04 KeV. The most common transition is from the second to first energy level, which is known as the Kα transition. When an electron transfers from a higher to a lower energy state, a photon is emitted. The removal of these electrons leaves holes which are quickly filled by electrons from higher energy levels.

Many of the high energy electrons strike electrons from the first two electron shells (historically called the K and L shells) of the copper anode. These high energy electrons strike the copper anode. In the x-ray tube, electrons are accelerated by an electron gun across a potential difference of 20 or 30 KV. X-rays are produced through two processes: bremsstrahlung and characteristic emission. This “bremsstrahlung” or “braking radiation” is thus a continuous spread of wavelengths, known as white spectrum, the minimum wavelength (or maximum energy) being determined by the accelerating voltage of the tube :

Since these collisions usually occurs at a slight depth within the target the longer, less energetic, wavelength are absorbed within the target material. The minority of electrons will undergo a variety of glancing collisions of varying severity the electrons are decelerated imparting some of their energy to the target particle and some in the form of electromagnetic radiation equivalent in energy to the energy loss experienced at each collision. In striking the copper anode of the X-Ray tube the majority of electrons experience nothing spectacular they undergo sequential glancing collisions with particles of matter, lose their energy a little at a time and merely increase the average kinetic energy of the particles in the target which in turn gets hot.

Continuous and characteristic x ray spectrum pdf