X Rays

Prepared by Catherine Paschal

Mwenge Catholic University

Catherine Paschal @MWECAU 1

Characteristic X-Ray-Radiation
• The spectral lines of the
characteristic X-ray radiation
appear only if the energy of the
electrons (incident on the
anode) is sufficiently high to
excite atomic inner shell
electrons into higher
unoccupied levels (Fig. right)
according to the scheme

Level scheme for the explanation of the

characteristic X-ray emission from the
anode atoms.
Characteristic X-Ray-Radiation
Example
• Ek (Cu(1s)) = −8978 eV (binding energy of an electron
in the 1s level of the K-shell); Ei (Cu(6p)) = −4 eV.
• The incident electrons can therefore only excite
electrons in the K-shell into the level Ei, which emits
the Cu-K-radiation, if their kinetic energy is above
8974eV.
• The characteristic X-ray radiation appears as sharp
lines superimposed on the continuous spectral
background of the bremsstrahlung (Fig. (a) below).
Characteristic X-Ray-Radiation
• With increasing voltage U
between the cathode and anode,
the ratio η = Pchar/Pcont of the
emitted powers of characteristic to
continuous radiation increases
(Fig. (b)).
• However, even at a voltage U =
250 kV it is only about 0.1 for a
tungsten anode.
Characteristic X-Ray-Radiation

(a) Continuous X-ray radiation, superimposed by the characteristic

lines of tungsten.
(b) Ratio η = Pchar/Pcont of emitted characteristic and continuous X-
ray radiation power from a tungsten anode as a function of
applied voltage U
Scattering and Absorption of X-Rays
• When a parallel X-ray beam passes
through a sample in x direction (Fig.
right) the transmitted radiation
power P(x) decreases after the path
length dx by
Absorption and scattering
of X-rays in matter

• The constant factor μ, which depends on the material of

the sample is the attenuation coefficient.
• Integration over a sample thickness x gives
Scattering and Absorption of X-Rays
• The attenuation has two parts: scattering and
absorption, which may be both simultaneously
effective.
• The attenuation coefficient can therefore be written as
the sum
μ = μs + α
of scattering coefficient μs and absorption coefficient α.
Scattering and Absorption of X-Rays
• The scattering is produced by the atomic electrons of
the sample.
• In a classical model, each electron can be regarded as a
harmonic oscillator induced to forced oscillations under
the influence of the incident electromagnetic wave with
frequency ω.
• Assume that the electric field vector of the incident
wave points in the y direction.
• Then the oscillating dipole is described by y = y0sinωt.
• The amplitude A of the radiation emitted by the
oscillator is proportional to the acceleration.