secondary X ray

Secondary X-rays are radiation emitted by atoms or molecules after they have been struck by primary radiation. This process occurs when electrons within a material gain enough kinetic energy from bombarding particles to escape the surface. In X-ray tubes, this happens when high-energy electrons strike a metal target, causing them to decelerate and emit X-rays. These emitted X-rays can be a continuous spectrum (bremsstrahlung) or discrete lines characteristic of the target material. This characteristic radiation arises from electrons transitioning between energy levels within the atom. X-ray spectroscopy utilizes these characteristic emissions to understand atomic structure.12345