Bremsstrahlung Radiation
"Braking radiation" — electron decelerated by nucleus emits X-ray photons
Kα Kβ
Characteristic lines
Bremsstrahlung ("braking radiation"): An electron decelerating in the Coulomb field of a nucleus (Z) emits a photon. The maximum photon energy equals the full electron energy (E_γ,max = eV₀ — the Duane-Hunt law), giving a sharp cutoff at λ_min = hc/eV₀ = 1240/V(keV) pm. Below this, the spectrum is continuous and roughly flat. Superimposed are characteristic lines (Kα, Kβ…) when inner-shell electrons are ejected and higher shells fill in. The total power scales as Z² (Larmor). Used in X-ray tubes for medical imaging, diffraction, and security scanning.