Characteristic of X-Rays

Introduction

X-Ray is also termed as the Roentgen radiation. X-Ray is defined as an electromagnetic radiation having the energy ranges from 124 eV to 124 keV. But, a wave with such energy can easily travel from transparent object to opaque object.

X-rays were discovered accidentally in 1895 by a German scientist Roentgen. Roentgen was awarded the Nobel Prize for discovering the X-rays in 1901. 

X-rays are extremely high penetrating electromagnetic radiation that have proved to be a very powerful tool for the study of the crystal structure, in the radiography of metals, in material research, and also in the field of medical sciences.

X-ray is defined as an electromagnetic radiation having very short wavelength and having very high energy. The frequency of X rays is from 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz. 

The wavelength of X-rays is longer than the Gamma rays, and shorter than Ultraviolet rays. The wavelength of X Rays is from 10-12 m (picometer) to 10-9 (nanometer). 

Characteristics of X-Ray

There are many characteristics of X-rays in which some of them ar,.

1. The wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum of X-rays are short
2. X-Rays require high voltage to produce
3.  X-Rays are used to detect the defects of the human skeleton
4. X-rays waves always travel in a straight line and they do not carry any electric charge with them
5. And also, the X-Rays are capable of travelling in a vacuum
6. X-Rays cannot be easily refracted
7. X-rays waves do not get affected by electromagnetic fields
8. X-Rays cause photoelectric emissions
9. X-rays having short wavelength and high penetrating ability are very destructive, this is the reason why they are known as hard x-rays.
10. The uses of X rays in medicinal fields have less penetrating power and longer wavelengths and hence they are called soft x-rays. X ray waves possess a dual nature.

X-Ray Spectrum – Characteristic and Continuous

For X-rays produced by the X-ray tube, the fraction of energy that is converted into radiation ranges from zero to the maximum energy of the electron when it hits the anode. The maximum energy of the generated X-ray photon is limited by the energy of the incident electron. , which is equal to the voltage across the tube times the charge on the electron, so a 100 kV tube cannot produce x-rays with energy more than 100 keV. When the electrons hit the target, then the X-rays are produced by two different atomic processes which are Bremsstrahlung Radiation and characteristic X-ray emission.

Bremsstrahlung Radiation 

Bremsstrahlung radiation is defined as the process through which some of the energy of celestial rays is scattered into the atmosphere of Earth. Chromosphere releases solar x-rays in the form of bremsstrahlung radiation. This is produced by the electrons which move at a high speed. But the internal bremsstrahlung arises in case of radioactive disintegration. During beta decay that includes the emission of electrons and positrons, the collision between these charged particles gives the emission of bremsstrahlung radiation. It is basically due to the acceleration and deceleration of the charged particles like atomic nuclei and electrons. If the particles emit bremsstrahlung radiation when they are accelerated by an external magnetic field then it is also called synchrotron radiation.

Characteristic X-ray spectrum/emission

When the electron has enough energy, it can knock out an orbital electron from the inner electron shell of a metal atom. Because the process leaves a gap in the electron energy level from which the electron came, the atom’s outer electrons cascade down to fill the lower atomic levels, and one or more characteristic X-rays are emitted. Due to it, sharp intensity peaks appear in the spectrum at wavelengths which are the characteristic of the material from which the anode target is made. The frequency of the characteristic X-ray is determined from the Bohr model.

Production of x ray

Roentgen found that when X-rays passed through hands and arms or any other part of the body, they create very clear and also detailed images of the inner bones.

Work of X-Rays.

When a doctor performs an X-ray of a patient, firstly an x-ray sensitive film is put on one side of the patient’s body and after that the x-rays are shot through him. While the skin is transparent (for x-ray), the bones are opaque (for x-ray) and hence absorb more x-rays. This is the reason why the impression of the bones is left on the x-ray film whereas the skin continues to be invisible in the x-ray.

Use of X-Rays

There are many different and important uses of X-Rays in which some of them are given.

Medical Use

The most important use of X-Rays is in medical purposes. It is used to detect the breakage in human bones.

Security

X-Rays are used as a scanner which scans the luggage of passengers in rail terminals, airports and other such places.

Astronomy

X-Ray which are emitted by celestial objects are studied to understand the environment.

Industrial Use

X-Ray is widely used for the detection of the defects in the welds.

Restoration

X-Rays are used for the restoration of old paintings.

Conclusion

X-Ray is also termed as the Roentgen radiation. X-Ray is defined as an electromagnetic radiation having the energy ranges from 124 eV to 124 keV. But, a wave with such energy can easily travel from transparent object to opaque object.

The wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum of X-rays are short.

X-rays require high voltage to produce.

 X-rays are used to detect the defects of the human skeleton.

X-rays waves always travel in a straight line and they do not carry any electric charge with them.

And also, the X-rays are capable of travelling in a vacuum.

When the electrons hit the target, then the X-rays are produced by two different atomic processes which are Bremsstrahlung Radiation and characteristic X-ray emission.