Siegbahn notation
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The Siegbahn notation is used to name the spectral lines that are characteristic to elements. It was created by Manne Siegbahn.
The characteristic spectral lines correspond to electronic transitions (electrons of the atom "jump" from a level to the other). In the case of an absorption line, the electron jumps from a low energy level to a high energy level; in the case of an emission line, the electron jumps from a high energy level to a low energy level.
The table below show the correspondence between the name of a few lines and the electronic levels.
| Low energy level | High energy level | Name of the line |
|---|---|---|
| K (1S0) | L3 (2P3/2) | Kα1 |
| L2 (2P1/2) | Kα2 | |
| M3 (3P3/2) | Kβ1 | |
| L3 (2P3/2) | M5 (3D5/2) | Lα1 |
| L2 (2P1/2) | M4 (3D3/2) | Lβ1 |
| M5 (3D5/2) | N7 (5P3/2) | Mα1 |
This notation is widely used in spectroscopy, but the IUPAC (International union of pure and applied chemistry) recommends another notation.
| Siegbahn notation | IUPAC notation |
|---|---|
| Kα1 | K-L3 |
| Kα2 | K-L2 |
| Kβ1 | K-M3 |
| Lα1 | L3-M5 |
| Lβ1 | L2-M4 |
| Mα1 | M5-N7 |
