Characteristic X-ray

Characteristic X-rays are emitted when outer-shell electrons fill a vacancy in the inner shell of an atom, releasing X-rays in a pattern that is "characteristic" to each element. Characteristic X-rays were discovered by Charles Glover Barkla in 1909,^[1] who later won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery in 1917.

Characteristic X-rays are produced when an element is bombarded with high-energy electrons. When a high-energy electron (the incident electron) strikes a bound electron (the target electron) in an atom, the target electron is ejected from the inner shell of the atom. After the electron has been ejected, the atom is left with a vacant energy level, also known as a core hole. Outer-shell electrons then fall into the inner shell, emitting quantized photons with an energy level equivalent to the energy difference between the higher and lower states. Each element has a unique set of energy levels, and thus the transition from higher to lower energy levels produces X-rays with frequencies that are characteristic to each element.^[2] When an electron falls from the L shell to the K shell, the X-ray emitted is called a K-alpha X-ray. Similarly, when an electron falls from the M shell to the K shell, the X-ray emitted is called a K-beta X-ray.^[3] Sometimes, however, instead of releasing the energy in the form of an X-ray, the energy can be transferred to another electron, which is then ejected from the atom. This is known as the Auger effect, and the second ejected electron is known as an Auger electron.

Applications

Characteristic X-rays can be used to identify the particular element from which they are emitted. This property is used in various techniques, including X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

See also

• Electron capture
• Internal conversion

Notes