X-ray Spectra from a Characteristic X-ray Generator with a Molybdenum Tube

This generator consists of the following components: a constant high-voltage power supply, a filament power supply, a turbomolecular pump, and an x-ray tube. The x-ray tube is a demountable diode which is connected to the turbomolecular pump and consists of the following major devices: a molybdenum rod target, a tungsten hairpin cathode (filament), a focusing electrode, a polyethylene terephthalate x-ray window 0.25mm in thickness, and a stainless-steel tube body. In the x-ray tube, the positive high voltage is applied to the anode (target) electrode, and the cathode is connected to the tube body (ground potential). In this experiment, the tube voltage applied was from 22 to 36kV, and the tube current was regulated to within 100μA by the filament temperature. The exposure time is controlled in order to obtain optimum x-ray intensity. The electron beams from the cathode are converged to the target by the focusing electrode, and x-rays are produced through the focusing electrode. Using a lithium fluoride curved crystal, clean K-series characteristic x-rays were observed without using a filter. However, bremsstrahlung x-rays were observed using a cadmium telluride detector