Find the ratio of the energy of the La characteristic x-ray to the Ka

Thread starter ChrisWM
Start date Nov 6, 2020
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Characteristic Energy Ratio X-ray

In summary, the ratio of the energy of the La characteristic x-ray to the Ka is determined by dividing the energy of the La x-ray peak by the energy of the Ka x-ray peak using an X-ray spectrometer. This ratio is important as it can reveal information about the atomic structure and composition of a material and can be used for element identification. The ratio can vary between elements due to differences in their atomic structure and can be affected by external factors such as temperature and pressure. However, there are limitations to using this ratio, such as inaccuracies for elements with overlapping x-ray peaks and potential errors in instrument calibration and measurement.

Nov 6, 2020

ChrisWM

Homework Statement: Find the ratio of the energy of the La characteristic x-ray to the Ka characteristic x-ray for: a) Potassium b) Copper

Relevant Equations: 1/wavelength=R(z-1)^2*3/4
1/wavelength=R(z-7.4)^2*(1/4-1/n^2)
E=hc/wavelength

I found my energies for Potassium. I have 3.3 KeV for the k alpha nd 254.6 ev for L alpha, using z=19 and n=3. Are these values correct?
Edit: I found the ratio to be .077

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Nov 6, 2020

TSny

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Your answers look correct to me.

Nov 6, 2020

ChrisWM

TSny said:

Your answers look correct to me.

Thanks!

1. What is the formula for finding the ratio of the energy of the La characteristic x-ray to the Ka?

The formula for finding this ratio is La/Ka = (E_La/E_Ka)^2, where E_La is the energy of the La characteristic x-ray and E_Ka is the energy of the Ka characteristic x-ray.

2. How is the energy of the La characteristic x-ray determined?

The energy of the La characteristic x-ray is determined by the atomic number of the element and the energy level transitions that occur within the atom.

3. What is the significance of finding the ratio of the energy of the La characteristic x-ray to the Ka?

This ratio can provide valuable information about the electronic structure of the atom and can be used to identify specific elements in a sample.

4. Can this ratio vary for different elements?

Yes, the ratio of the energy of the La characteristic x-ray to the Ka can vary for different elements due to differences in atomic structure and energy level transitions.

5. How is this ratio used in scientific research?

This ratio is commonly used in X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, which is a technique used to analyze the elemental composition of a sample. It can also be used in X-ray diffraction studies to determine the crystal structure of a material.