Practical Electron Microscopy and Database

An Online Book, Second Edition by Dr. Yougui Liao (2006)

Practical Electron Microscopy and Database - An Online Book

Chapter/Index: Introduction | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Appendix

Possible Electron Transitions Giving Rise to Characteristic X-Rays

Figure 4676a schematically shows some details regarding possible electron transitions that give rise to K and L characteristic X-rays. However, only a small fraction of transistions generates sufficient X-rays for detection in electron microscopes and we don’t need to worry about some details because either the X-ray detectors can’t usually distinguish between the X-rays from different subshells or some transitions are not detectable by EDS in electron microscopes, except at the highest X-ray energies. Therefore, K, L, and M shells as well as α and β notations are about all we need to remember in our EDS experiments. For your convenience, Figure 4676b schematically shows the transitions in a different way.

Some possible electron transitions that give rise to K and L characteristic X-rays

Figure 4676a. Some possible electron transitions that give rise to K and L characteristic X-rays.

Schematically showing the transitions in a different way

Figure 4676b. Schematically showing the transitions in a different way.