PhysicsChapter 11: Medical Imaging
Characteristic X-Rays
Characteristic X-rays
Definition
Characteristic X-rays are emitted when electrons in an atom undergo transitions that fill vacancies in inner electron shells.
Formula / Key Relation
A high-energy incident electron can remove an inner-shell electron from a target atom. This creates a vacancy. An electron from a higher energy level falls into the vacancy. The energy difference is emitted as an X-ray photon: hf = ΔE Because atomic energy levels depend on the element, the resulting X-ray energies are characteristic of the target material. This produces discrete spectral lines. **Eγ = hf = ΔE**
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Review the key facts, formulas and checks before you move on.Characteristic X-Rays
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CHARACTERISTIC
- Inner vacancy
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- Outer electron falls
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- X-ray photon
60-second revision
- Discrete atomic transitions produce discrete X-ray energies.
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