Characteristic X-rays in a tungsten target involve electron transitions to which shell?

Characteristic X-rays in a tungsten target involve electron transitions to which shell?

• A. L-shell
• B. K-shell
• C. M-shell
• D. N-shell

Answer: (B)

Characteristic X-rays occur when a vacancy is left in the atom’s innermost shell and an electron from a higher shell fills it, emitting a photon with energy equal to the difference in binding energies. In tungsten, the most prominent transitions involve moving into the innermost shell, the K-shell, from higher shells such as the L or M shells. The emitted photons from these transitions constitute the K-series lines (K-alpha from L to K, K-beta from M to K). So the electron transitions are into the K-shell.

Characteristic X-rays occur when a vacancy is left in the atom’s innermost shell and an electron from a higher shell fills it, emitting a photon with energy equal to the difference in binding energies. In tungsten, the most prominent transitions involve moving into the innermost shell, the K-shell, from higher shells such as the L or M shells. The emitted photons from these transitions constitute the K-series lines (K-alpha from L to K, K-beta from M to K). So the electron transitions are into the K-shell.