Abstract
In the grazing incidence grating spectroscopy of the soft X-ray region, it is customary to measure the intensity distribution in the emission bands from solids by methods involving the assumption of the photographic reciprocity law. A procedure has been evolved by which this assumption is avoided. An account is given of the experimental technique and of the essential precautions. Characteristic blackening curves are obtained for the photographic plates in the soft X-ray region and under the actual conditions of spectroscopy. Intensity distribution curves have been obtained for the K emission bands of graphite, lampblack, diamond and carborundum. The emission band of lampblack is similar to that of graphite but is somewhat wider. The difference between the present curves and those previously obtained appears most clearly in diamond and carborundum. The energy distribution of the p electrons in the valence bands of the solids is calculable from the curves.