Question

State any one difference between characteristic X-ray and continuous X-ray.

Answer 1

Hint: We know that X-ray is electromagnetic radiation, which consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields. The major difference in electromagnetic radiation is their wavelength and in relation to the amount of radiation they carry.

Complete step by step answer:
Continuous X-ray: It consists of radiation of all possible wavelengths. It occurs under certain high anode potential. It is a monochromatic or white X-ray. The continuous spectrum occurs due to the deceleration of the electrons hitting the target.
Characteristic X-ray: It consists of definite, well-defined wavelength superimposed on a continuous spectrum. It occurs above certain high anode potential. It has a different series of radiation like K-series and L-series of radiation. Outer shell electrons jump to fill the vacancy in the inner shell which results in the production of characteristics x-ray.
When fast-moving electrons emitted from the cathode are suddenly decelerated inside the target anode these rays are called “braking radiation”.
The electrons in the target atoms get ‘excited’ and then ‘de-excited’ – X-rays produced in this way have definite energies just like other line spectra from atomic electrons. They are called characteristic X-rays.

The explanation for Continuous X-ray Spectrum:
An incident electron having energy collides with a target atom. The fast-moving electron interacts with the nucleus of the target atom and as the electron approaches the nucleus, it is slowed down. The loss of kinetic energy is converted into X-ray photons that are emitted. one of the factors on which the energy of the photon is released depends on how close the electron comes into contact with the nucleus.
The scattered electron which has energy less than the initial kinetic energy now again collides with another target atom which gives rise to the second x-ray photon. The electron-scattering process continues until the electrons are approximately stationary, losing all its energy. All the X-ray photons produced due to the collisions between electrons and target atoms play a very important role in the continuous X-ray spectrum.
The explanation for Characteristic X-ray Spectrum:
An accelerated electron from the cathode collides into an electron of a target atom that is orbiting in the K-shell (n=1). If sufficient energy is transferred by the accelerated electron to the orbiting electron, the latter electron will be ejected from the target atom.

Note:
To understand the difference between the characteristic and continuous X-ray spectrum, study the wavelengths of both the x-rays. Study the nature of the rays like how both are produced. The ability to lose the electrons is known as Anode potential. Both the rays have different anode potentials.