The absorption of X-rays

Abstract

Introduction . —Previous to the discovery of the behaviour of X-rays with regard to crystals, the most homogeneous radiation obtainable was that of the characteristic radiation of an element which is excited when that element is exposed to X-radiation of suitable hardness. These characteristic radiations are now found, however, by the new method of analysis, to be constituted of a number of radiations of different wave-lengths. Moseley, shortly after the discovery of the reflection of X-rays, showed that the characteristic radiations of most of the metals he examined consisted of two prominent wave-lengths; Bragg later found that, in the case of rhodium, palladium and silver, each of these lines could be further resolved into two components. Hence the spectra of the characteristic radiation of the K series of these elements consist of at least four different wave-lengths. The analysis of a beam of X-rays into its constituent radiations by reflection at a crystal face provides a means, therefore, of obtaining radiation of a definite wave length and of such intensity as to enable its absorption coefficient in different materials to be accurately measured. Bragg and Pierce have already measured the absorption coefficients of the two most prominent lines in the spectra of the elements Rh, Pd and Ag, in a number of metals. To make the absorption coefficient more directly comparable with other atomic characteristics, they gave their results in the form of atomic absorption coefficients: the atomic absorption coefficient expresses the proportion of the energy of an X-ray pencil which is absorbed in crossing a surface on which lies one atom to every square centimetre. The ordinary mass absorption coefficient can be calculated from this quantity by dividing it by the mass of the absorbing atom. The experimental results showed that the ratio of two absorption coefficients is independent of the wave-length of the radiation over considerable ranges, a result previously deduced by Barkla from his experiments; also, that the atomic absorption coefficient is proportional to the fourth power of the atomic number of the absorber.