X-Rays

Introduction/Properties of X-ray

• Discovered by W.C Roetgen in 1895 & received first Nobel Prize for physics in 1902.When high energetic electrons are incident on a metal target (Melting point & atomic weight) then x-rays are emitted.
• Electromagnetic waves

• Invisible
• No deflection in electric & magnetic field therefore it is made up of Photon. Hence it has no  mass and charge.

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• Penetrating power is very high.
• X-rays with longer wavelength (or lesser frequency it means lesser energy) are called soft x-rays.
• X-rays with shorter wavelength are called hard x-rays.

Types of X-rays

1. Characteristics or line X-rays
2. Continuous X-rays

Characteristics X-rays

When high energetic electrons are strike on a metal target; they knock out electrons from innermost shell like K, L, M etc. & the vacancies created are filled by higher orbital (shells). Electrons from higher orbitals Jump into these vacancies. So the energy difference is given out in the form of X-rays.

fig(a) shows when fast moving electron knocks out from K shell. Created vacancy filled by L shell(fig-b).

                ∴  Eʟ - Eᴋ = △E₁
               ∴  Eʟ - Eᴋ =  h𝜈₁          (∵ E = h𝜈)  
              Produces Kα line of K series.
similarly      Eм - Eᴋ = △E₂
                   Eм - Eᴋ =  h𝜈₂
               Produces Kβ line of K series. 
Similarly when electron falls from M-shell to L-shell; L-series X-rays are produced.

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Continuous x-rays

When high energetic electrons are strike on a metal target, few of the electrons are attracted by the force of the nuclei. Due to these force electrons get deflected from their original path. Electrons are decelerated & lose their energy in the form of x-rays.