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The fantasy world of the signature X-ray spectrum: What makes each element's X-ray unique?
X-ray spectroscopy technology is an important means of identifying material properties through X-ray radiation. Among numerous X-ray technologies, characteristic X-ray spectroscopy is widely used in material composition analysis. These techniques are based on a basic principle: When electrons in an atom's inner shell are excited by a photon, their energy climbs to a higher energy level. When the electron returns to a lower energy level, the energy released by the photon is a characteristic wavelength unique to that element.
X-ray emission spectrum analysis of samples can provide qualitative and quantitative information, which is crucial for elemental analysis.
Quantitative results can be produced when the spectrum of a sample is compared to a sample of known composition. The success of this process relies on a precise understanding of the material or optical elements.
Characteristic X-ray spectroscopy technology
Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)
In energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers, semiconductor detectors are used to measure the energy of incoming photons. To maintain detector integrity and resolution, liquid nitrogen cooling or Peltier cooling is often required. EDS is widely used in electron microscopy. Although its main task is imaging, the convenience of this technology also makes it slightly used in portable XRF equipment.
In contrast, wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS) diffracts photons through a single crystal according to Bragg's law and then collects the data from a detector. Although the reaction speed of WDS is not as fast as EDS, it has higher spectral resolution and sensitivity and is often used in microprobes and XRF technology.
X-ray emission spectrum
Father and son William Lawrence Bragg and William Henry Bragg won the Nobel Prize in 1915 and are known as the pioneers of X-ray emission spectroscopy. In their experiments, high-energy electrons were used as excitation sources, allowing them to accurately measure the X-ray wavelengths of various elements. The equipment required for this process, such as X-ray tubes and polyhedral optics, enabled the rapid development of X-ray emission spectroscopy technology.
Through X-rays, researchers can further detect the internal structure of materials and changes in their electronic states, which makes X-ray technology more advantageous than other methods.
Instrument design for X-ray spectroscopy
With the development of technology, many high-efficiency designed instruments have appeared for analyzing the emission spectrum in the ultra-soft X-ray region. These designs typically include fringe spectrometers, spherical gratings, plane gratings, and interferometers. These instruments capture spectra better and provide more accurate data. Each instrument has its specific application scenarios and operational advantages, which promotes the rapid development of scientific research.
For example, the use of spherical gratings allows X-rays to be diffracted and focused at the same time to achieve high-resolution detection of tiny structures, which is particularly important in dark experimental environments.
The early history of X-ray spectroscopy in the United States
In the early to mid-20th century, with the establishment of the R&D laboratory, the Dutch company Philips began to produce light bulbs and gradually developed into one of the leaders in X-ray equipment. Their research and development not only developed X-ray tubes for medical use, but also contributed to the advancement of scientific instrumentation.
Initially, the development of scientific X-ray instruments faced challenges due to insufficient market demand, but with the advancement of technology, this market eventually ushered in rapid growth.
In addition, the establishment of Norelco Electronics accelerated the commercial development of X-ray spectroscopy technology and contributed to subsequent space exploration. With the advancement of technology, XRF instruments are gradually miniaturized. Current handheld XRF equipment is widely used in industrial analysis and environmental monitoring.
Except X-ray emission spectrum
In addition to characteristic X-ray spectrum, there are other types of X-ray spectroscopy technologies such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. These technologies have their own characteristics and provide more diversified methods for scientific research. choose.
In short, the development of X-ray spectroscopy technology not only promotes the progress of materials science, but also provides new ideas for research in other fields. In this fantastic X-ray world, reviewing the unique X-ray characteristics of each element makes us wonder: How many unknown areas are there waiting for us to uncover their mysteries in future scientific exploration?
