X‐ray production in thin films by electrons with energies between 40 and 100 keV. 2—Characteristic cross‐sections and the overall x‐ray spectrum

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Abstract
Two approximate theories are considered for the production of characteristic x‐rays when thin foil targets are bombarded with electrons with energies between 40 and 100 keV. One, due to Kolbenstvedt, is semi‐classical in nature whilst the other, due to Bethe, contains two parameters which are normally adjusted empirically. Data from six different target materials are presented, but because errors in experimentally derived absolute cross‐sections are large, a comparison is made between theoretical and observed ratios of characteristic Kα photons to bremsstrahlung photons in a 20 eV channel directly beneath the peak. By adjusting the Bethe parameters and using a modified Bethe‐Heitler theory to predict the bremsstrahlung, agreement between experiment and theory of typically 10% is recorded. Finally, a means of simplifying the equations used to enable rapid calculation of x‐ray spectra with a pocket calculator is indicated.