Kα is commonly used x-ray to analyse the specimen rather than Kβ, Lα, Lβ or Mα. Why?
The preference for using Kα X-rays rather than Kβ, Lα, Lβ, or Mα X-rays in X-ray analysis of specimens is primarily based on their relative intensities and energies.
To understand why Kα is commonly used, let's break down the key factors:
1. Intensity: The Kα X-ray emission line has a higher intensity compared to Kβ, Lα, Lβ, or Mα lines. Intensity is crucial for obtaining accurate and reliable results. Higher intensity X-rays provide better signal-to-noise ratios, allowing for more precise measurements of the specimen's composition.
2. Energy: Kα X-rays have a more optimal energy range for exciting and interacting with the atoms in most materials. They typically have energies around 5-10 keV, which is suitable for inducing the desired atomic transitions in various specimens. Other X-ray lines, such as Kβ, Lα, Lβ, or Mα, have energies that may not be as effective for interacting with the specimen's atoms, leading to less efficient analysis.
3. X-ray Tube Spectrum: The X-ray tube used for generating X-rays typically produces a continuous spectrum of X-ray energies. However, the Kα line is the most intense and well-defined peak in this spectrum. As a result, it is more straightforward to isolate and measure the intensity of the Kα line accurately. On the other hand, the Kβ, Lα, Lβ, and Mα lines are often less prominent or obscured within the tube spectrum, making their detection and analysis more challenging.
Therefore, due to the higher intensity and more suitable energy range, Kα X-rays are preferred over Kβ, Lα, Lβ, or Mα X-rays for specimen analysis in X-ray techniques such as X-ray diffraction or X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.