X - Ray 1

X-RAYS
ROENTGEN EXPERIMENT/COOLIDGE METHOD
Roentgen discovered X-ray. While performing
evacuated tube
expriment on electric discharge tube Roentgen
+ electron
observed that when pressure inside the tube is
10–3 mm of Hg and applied potential is kept
25 KV then some unknown radiation are target
cathode
emitted by anode.
These are known as X-ray. X-rays
V

To Produce X-ray Three Things are Required

(i) Source of electron
(ii) Means of accelerating these electron to high speed
(iii) Target on which these high speed electron strike
Thus the intensity of X-ray depend on current flowing through filament while penetraing power depend
on applied potential difference

Soft X-ray Hard X-ray

Wavelength 10 Å to 100 Å 0.1 Å – 10 Å

12400 12400
Energy eV-Å eV-Å
 
Penetrating power Less More
Use Radio photography Radio therapy

Continuous spectrum of X-ray 1 mv2

–2 1
When high speed electron collide from the atom of target and passes close e
v1 h
y
to the nucleus. There is coulomb attractive force due to this electron is X-ra n
ho to
deaccelerated i.e. energy is decreased. The loss of energy during deacceleration + p
K
is emitted in the form of X-rays. X-ray produced in this way are called L –
e
Braking or Bremstralung radiation and form continuous spectrum. M v2 1 2
2 mv2

In continuous spectrum of X-ray all the wavelength of X-ray are present but below a minimum value of wavelength
there is no X-ray. It is called cut off or threshold or minimum wavelength of X-ray. The minimum wavelength
depends on applied potential.

12400 12400
min = Å × volt = × 10–10 m × volt
V V

Continuous X-rays also known as white X-ray. Minimum wavelength of these spectrum only depend on applied
potential and don' t depend on atomic number.

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 X - Ray 2
Characteristic Spectrum of X-ray e
–
e– y
X-ra n
o
When the target of X-ray tube is collide by energetic electron it emits two type phot
h
of X-ray radiation. One of them has a continuous spectrum whose
wavelength depend on applied potential while other consists of spectral
+ e–
K
lines whose wavelength depend on nature of target. The radiation L

forming the line spectrum is called characteristic X-rays. M

When highly accelerated electron strike with the atom of target then it knockout the electron of orbit,
due to this a vacancy is created. To fill this vacancy electron jump from higher energy level and
electromagnetic radiation are emitted which form characteristic spectrum of X-ray.

 Whose wavelength depend on nature of target

and not on applied potential. O
From Bohr N 4
N N N series
n1 = 1, n2 = 2, 3, 4.......Lyman series
M 3
MMM M series
n1 = 2, n2 = 3, 4, 5.......Balmer series

n1 = 3, n2 = 4, 5, 6.......Paschan series L 2
L L L L series
Line = n2 – n1

First line of series = 

Second line of series = 

K 1
K K K K
Third line of series = 
K series

Transition Series line wavelength Frequency Energy Energy diff. Wavelength

hc
LK K  K K hK EK – EL = hK K = (E  E )
K L

12400
2 1 K = (E  E ) eVÅ
K L

hc
MK K   K K hK EK – EM = hK K = (E  E )
K M

12400
3 1 K = (E  E ) eVÅ
K M

hc
ML L  L L hL EL – EM = hL L = (E  E )
L M

12400
3 2 L= (E  E ) eVÅ
L M

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 X - Ray 3

K
3

characteristic X-ray

relative intensity
2
X-ray from a molybdenum
K target at 35 kV

L
L
1 Bremsstrahlung
continuum

0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12

wavelength (nm)

MOSELEY'S LAW
Moseley studied the characteristic spectrum of number of many elements and observed that the square
root of the frequency of a K-line is closely proportional to atomic number of the element. This is called
Moseley's law.

  (Z – b) r  (Z – b)2, = a (Z - b)2 ......(i)

Z = atomic number of target,  = frequency of characteristic spectrum

b = screening constant (for K- series b=1, L series b=7.4), a = proportionality constant
1 1 
From Bohr Model  = RCZ2  2  2  ......(ii)
 n1 n2 
1 1 
comparing (i) and (ii) a = RC  2  2 
 n1 n2 
Ex. Find out wave length of KX-ray
Sol. Ka means transition from n2 = 2 to n1 = 2 and b=1 for K series
1 1  1 1 1 
1
= R(Z – 1)2  2  2  = R(Z – 1)2  2  2
 K  n1 n2   K  1 2 

1 3R(Z  1)2
=
 K 4
4
 K =
3R(Z  1)2

Graph
K
K


b Z

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 X - Ray 4

DIFFRACTION OF X-RAY
Diffraction of X-ray is possible by crystals because the interatomic spacing in a crystal lattice is order
of wavelength of X-rays it was first varified by Lauve.
Diffraction of X-ray take place according to Bragg's law

2d sin = n
d = spacing of crystal plane or lattice constant or distance between adjacent atomic plane
 = Bragg's angle or glancing angle
 = Diffracting angle
n = 1, 2, 3 ....... 
 
For Maximum Wavelength d
sin  = 1, n = 1
similarly max = 2d
so if  > 2d diffraction is not possible i.e. solution of Bragg's equation is not possible.
CHARCTERISTIC OF X-RAY
 X-ray always travel with the velocity of light in straight line because their wavelength is very small.
 X-ray is electromagnetic radiation it show particle and wave both nature
 In reflection, diffraction, interference, refraction X-ray shows wave nature while in photoelectric effect it shows
particle nature.
 There is no charge on X-ray thus these are not deflected by electric field and magnetic field.
 X-ray are invisible.
 X-ray affect the photographic plate
 When X-ray incident on the surface of substance it exert force and pressure and transfer energy and momentum
 Characteristic X-ray can not obtained from hydrogen because the difference of energy level in hydrogen
is very small.

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