Atomic And Nuclear Physics

4

Introduction to X-rays

THIS CHAPTER COVERS…

• The historical background and the basic properties of X-rays, the mechanism of their production, the origin of continuous and characteristic spectra.
• The absorption properties of X-rays, methods of safe handling are also introduced. The Moseley's law, diffraction of X-rays, crystal structure determination, Bragg's law, the techniques of X-ray detection using gas filled, scintillation and semiconductor detectors and X-ray imaging applications.

4.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Wilhelm von Konrad Röentgen in 1895, while studying the green fluorescence in rarefied Crooke's tube, accidently discovered some invisible rays, which he named X-rays. He found these rays to be of higher penetrating power than ...