Soft X-Rays: Causes & Energy Rates

[Entanglement]

what is the reason of soft x-rays, Is it because when a accelerated electron approaches an atom the electrons' electric field repel the incoming electron causing deceleration and also i scattering could be a reason when the electron approaches the nucleus, is that correct?
what is the relation of the number and energy of photons emitted to the rate of its deceleration, how can it be calculated? Big to PF, and thanks in advance!

 

[UltrafastPED]

"Soft x-rays" have less energy than "hard x-rays". The traditional method for making x-rays was to accelerate electrons through a fixed potential - call it V - so that every electron has the same energy; about eV in this case.

Then collide the electrons with a thin metal film. If the electron energy is sufficient, then the "characteristic x-rays" for that metal will be emitted.

"Hard" x-rays are more penetrating.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_generator

 

[Newtonsstudent]

"Soft x-rays" have less energy than "hard x-rays". The traditional method for making x-rays was to accelerate electrons through a fixed potential - call it V - so that every electron has the same energy; about eV in this case.
Then collide the electrons with a thin metal film. If the electron energy is sufficient, then the "characteristic x-rays" for that metal will be emitted.
"Hard" x-rays are more penetrating.
See [PLAIN]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_generatorsf[/PLAIN]

 

[Entanglement]

"Soft x-rays" have less energy than "hard x-rays". The traditional method for making x-rays was to accelerate electrons through a fixed potential - call it V - so that every electron has the same energy; about eV in this case.
Then collide the electrons with a thin metal film. If the electron energy is sufficient, then the "characteristic x-rays" for that metal will be emitted.
"Hard" x-rays are more penetrating.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_generator

Thanks a lot for your answer, but I don't think you understood my question correctly

 

[davenn]

I think you are talking about Bremsstrahlung radiation

see if this wiki link helps

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremsstrahlung


cheers
Dave

 

[UltrafastPED]

Thanks a lot for your answer, but I don't think you understood my question correctly

Maybe can work you some question so it clearer be.

 

[rigetFrog]

Yeah, clearer question would help.

Soft x-rays are typically generated at synchrotrons and wiggling the electron beam using an undulator.

 

[Entanglement]

I mean I know that when an electron falls from a higher level it emits a photon of energy hv,
What is the equivalence of that for decelerating electrons, what governs the number of photons and the energy of each photon??

 

[rigetFrog]

The undulator produces a magnetic field that acts on the electron beam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undulator).

A magnetic field has a potential energy similar to a (quantum) harmonic oscillator along one axis (Introductory Quantum Mechanics, Liboff 4th editon).

I'm guessing the transitions are harmonic oscillator type transitions, with higher energy and lower energy states available.

 

[davenn]

..... what governs the number of photons and the energy of each photon??

The maximum energy of the produced X-ray photon is limited by the energy of the incident electron, which is equal to the voltage on the tube times the electron charge, so an 80 kV tube cannot create X-rays with an energy greater than 80 keV

Dave

 

[UltrafastPED]

For braking radiation, conservation of energy tells us that the total energy released as photons cannot exceed the total energy of the initial source.

An x-ray passing through matter will have multiple interactions, all electromagnetic, knocking off electrons as it goes. These electrons will in turn generate additional photons - a chain reaction - but with ever lower energies in the photons, and in the electrons.

This cascade is called bremsstrahlung or braking radiation.

For some calculations see http://www.astro.utu.fi/~cflynn/astroII/l3.html
and http://whs.wsd.wednet.edu/faculty/b...onphysics/lecturenotes/chapter7/chapter7.html

 

[davenn]

its so much fun being ignored

 

[UltrafastPED]

its so much fun being ignored

It's my favorite activity! :tongue:

 

[Entanglement]

Thanks guys I got it.

 

[Entanglement]

its so much fun being ignored

What do you mean?

 

[UltrafastPED]

What do you mean?

That was for me, so you can just ignore it.