X-radiation

X-rays are generated in two ways:

1. Characteristic radiation
   Is created when an orbital electron jumps from one orbit to another with lower energy. This form of X-radiation has a discrete energy that is characteristic of the element in which it arises. In heavy atoms, emission of characteristic radiation is dominant, while in light atoms the Auger effect is more common.
2. Bremsstrahlung
   Occurs when an electron is accelerated or decelerated. This form of X-radiation has a continuous energy spectrum.

History

X-rays were discovered by chance in 1895 by the German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845 – 1923). He called the hitherto unknown phenomenon X-Strahlen.

Related concepts

• bremsstrahlung
• characteristic radiation
• compton effect
• electromagnetic radiation
• energy (photon)
• frequency
• pair production
• photoelectric effect
• photon
• scattering
• speed of light
• wavelength