Characteristic x-ray spectra come from

A. bremsstrahlung processes for electrons close to the nucleus.
B. electrons transitioning down from an outer shell replace electrons ejected from an inner shell.
C. random excitations of electrons when atoms are near room temperature.
D. photons scattering off of electrons, thereby losing energy and emitting radiation.


B.
Characteristic x rays are emitted when a highly bound electron is ejected from an inner (K, L) shell and an electron from an outer shell drops down to replace it. The difference in binding energies produces a photon, usually of high energy like an x ray.

Physics & Space Science

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