What is the Difference Between Bremsstrahlung and Characteristic Radiation

The key difference between Bremsstrahlung and Characteristic radiation is that in Bremsstrahlung radiation, Bremsstrahlung X-rays produce a continuous X-ray spectrum whereas, in characteristic radiation, characteristic x-rays are produced at specific narrow bands of energies.

Electromagnetic radiation is the flow of energy at the universal speed of light through free space or through a material medium in the form of the electric and magnetic fields that makes up electromagnetic waves like radio waves, visible light, and gamma rays.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Bremsstrahlung Radiation
3. What is Characteristic Radiation
4. Bremsstrahlung vs Characteristic Radiation in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Bremsstrahlung vs Characteristic Radiation

What is Bremsstrahlung Radiation?

Bremsstrahlung Radiation can be described as the radiation given off by free electrons that are deflected in the electric fields of charged particles and the nuclei of atoms. It is electromagnetic radiation that is produced by the deceleration of a charged particle when deflected by another charged particle. This is typically an electron deflected by an atomic nucleus.

Usually, the moving particle loses kinetic energy and is converted into radiation, therefore satisfying the law of conservation of energy. In general, Bremsstrahlung Radiation has a continuous spectrum. It becomes more intense, and peak intensity shifts toward higher frequencies as the change of the energy of the deceleration particles increases.

Generally speaking, Bremsstrahlung Radiation is any radiation that is produced due to the deceleration of a charged particle. This includes synchrotron radiation, cyclotron radiation, and the emission of electrons and positrons during beta decay.

What is Characteristic Radiation?

Characteristic radiation or characteristic x-ray is emitted when outer-shell electrons fill a vacancy in the inner shell of an atom. This releases X-rays in a pattern that is characteristic of each element. Charles Glover Barkla discovered these characteristic X-rays in 1909. Later, he won the Nobel prize in physics in 1917.

This type of electromagnetic radiation is produced when an element is bombarded with high-energy particles. These particles can be photons, electrons, or ions, such as protons. This incident particle collides with a bound electron in an atom which makes the targeted electron eject from the inner shell of the atom. After this ejection of the electron, the atom gets a vacant energy level. We call it a core hole. Thereafter, the outer shell electrons fall into the inner shell. This causes the emission of quantized photons with an energy level that is equivalent to the higher energy level and lower energy level. There is a unique set of energy levels for a particular element. Therefore, the transition from a higher to a lower energy level creates X-rays with frequencies that are characteristic of each element.

What is the Difference Between Bremsstrahlung and Characteristic Radiation?

The key difference between Bremsstrahlung and Characteristic radiation is that in Bremsstrahlung radiation, Bremsstrahlung X-rays produce a continuous X-ray spectrum whereas, in characteristic radiation, characteristic x-rays are produced at specific narrow bands of energies. Moreover, Bremsstrahlung radiation is formed by accelerating protons and allowing them to hit hydrogen, while characteristic radiation is formed when electrons change from one atomic orbit to another.

The following table summarizes the difference between Bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation.

Summary – Bremsstrahlung vs Characteristic Radiation

Bremsstrahlung radiation is radiation given off by free electrons that are deflected in the electric fields of charged particles and the nuclei of atoms. Characteristic radiation or characteristic x-ray is emitted when outer-shell electrons fill a vacancy in the inner shell of an atom. The key difference between Bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation is that in Bremsstrahlung radiation, Bremsstrahlung X-rays produce a continuous X-ray spectrum whereas, in characteristic radiation, characteristic x-rays are produced at specific narrow bands of energies.