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X-ray
Thermionic Emission
Continuous X-ray
Characteristic X-ray
Bremsstrahlung
Soft X-ray
Hard X-ray
B) PROPERTIES OF X-RAY
C) PRODUCTION OF X-RAY
Diagram
E) PROCESS
Some of high speed electrons which bombard the target undergo The electrons which bombard the target are very energetic and are
a rapid deceleration. This is braking capable of knock out the inner shell electrons from the target atom,
As the electrons suddenly come to rest in the target, a part or all creating the inner shell vacancies.
of their kinetic energies are converted into energy of EM When these are refilled by electrons from the outer shells, the
radiation immediately called Bremsstrahlung
electrons making a transition from any one of the outer shells (higher
energy level) to the inner shell (lower energy level) vacancies and emit
Kinetic Energy Of The Electron, K = E, Energy Of EM Radiation
the characteristic x-rays.
Since the energy of characteristic x-rays equal to the difference of the
These x-rays cover a wide range of wavelengths or two energies level, thus its energy is discrete. Then its frequency and
frequencies and its energies are continuous. wavelength also discrete.
From the equation above, the minimum wavelength depends on the applied voltage across the x-ray tube and
independent of target material.
CHARACTERISTIC LINES
The characteristic lines are the result of electrons transition within the atoms of the target material due to the
production of characteristic x-rays.
These characteristic lines is the property of the target material i.e. for difference material the wavelengths of the
characteristic lines are different.
Note that the wavelengths of the characteristic lines does not changes when the applied voltage across x-ray tube
changes.
There are several types of characteristic lines series:
K lines series is defined as the line spectra produced due to electron transition from outer shell to K shell vacancy
and emits a photon, hf.
K line = Electron transition from L shell (n =2) to K shell vacancy (n =1)
K line = Electron transition from M shell (n =3) to K shell vacancy (n =1)
K line = Electron transition from N shell (n =4) to K shell vacancy (n =1)
L lines series is defined as the lines spectra produced due to electron transition from outer shell to L shell vacancy
and emits a photon, hf.
L line = Electron transition from M shell (n =3) to L shell vacancy (n =2)
L line = Electron transition from N shell (n =4) to L shell vacancy (n =2)
L line = Electron transition from O shell (n =5) to L shell vacancy (n =2)
M lines series is defined as the lines spectra produced due to electron transition from outer shell to M shell
vacancy and emits a photon, hf.
M line = Electron transition from N shell (n =4) to M shell vacancy (n =3)
M line = Electron transition from O shell (n =5) to M shell vacancy (n =3)
M line = Electron transition from P shell (n =6) to M shell vacancy (n =3)
H) GRAPH
At low applied voltage across the tube, only a continuous spectrum of radiation exists. As the applied voltage
increases, groups of sharp peaks superimposed on the continuous radiation begin to appear. These peaks are
lines spectra (characteristic lines) where it is depend on the target material.
G) INTENSITY OF X-RAYS
The intensity of x-rays makes more energy available for x-rays production depends on :
The number of electrons hitting the target i.e. the filament current.
The voltage across the tube. If the voltage increases so the energy of the bombarding electrons increases and
therefore makes more energy available for x-rays production.
J) DIFFERENCES BETWEEN X-RAY EMISSION SPECTRA AND OPTICAL ATOMIC EMISSION SPECTRA
SIMILARITIES
1) They are electromagnetic wave
2) They are transverse wave
X-RAY DIFFERENCES ON GAMMA RAY
ASPECT
Produced during radioactivity or nuclear
Produced when high energy electrons strike a
How It Produced decay, and emitted from the nucleus of an
heavy metal
atom
Longer wavelength than gamma ray Wavelength Shorter wavelength than X-ray
Used for medical imaging Uses / Application Used for radiotherapy to treat cancer patient
M) EQUATION
EQUATION UNIT