X-ray notation is a method of labeling
atomic orbitals
In quantum mechanics, an atomic orbital () is a function describing the location and wave-like behavior of an electron in an atom. This function describes an electron's charge distribution around the atom's nucleus, and can be used to calc ...
that grew out of
X-ray
An X-ray (also known in many languages as Röntgen radiation) is a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than those of ultraviolet rays and longer than those of gamma rays. Roughly, X-rays have a wavelength ran ...
science. Also known as IUPAC notation, it was adopted by the
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC ) is an international federation of National Adhering Organizations working for the advancement of the chemical sciences, especially by developing nomenclature and terminology. It is ...
in 1991 as a simplification of the older
Siegbahn notation The Siegbahn notation is used in X-ray spectroscopy to name the spectral lines that are characteristic to elements. It was introduced by Manne Siegbahn.
The characteristic lines in X-ray emission spectra correspond to atomic electronic transitio ...
.
In X-ray notation, every principal quantum number is given a letter associated with it. In many areas of physics and chemistry, atomic orbitals are described with
spectroscopic notation (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, etc.), but the more traditional X-ray notation is still used with most X-ray spectroscopy techniques including
AES and
XPS.
Conversion
Uses
*X-ray sources are classified by the type of material and orbital used to generate them. For example, Cu
Kα X-rays are emitted from the K orbital of copper.
*X-ray
absorption is reported as which orbital absorbed the x-ray photon. In
EXAFS and
XMCD the L-edge or the L absorption edge is the point where the L orbital begins to absorb x-rays.
*
Auger peaks are identified with three orbital definitions, for example KL
1L
2. In this case, K represents the hole that is initially present at the core level, L
1 the initial state of the electron that relaxes down into the core level hole, and L
2 the initial energy state of the emitted electron.
See also
*
Siegbahn notation The Siegbahn notation is used in X-ray spectroscopy to name the spectral lines that are characteristic to elements. It was introduced by Manne Siegbahn.
The characteristic lines in X-ray emission spectra correspond to atomic electronic transitio ...
for the names of
spectral lines
A spectral line is a weaker or stronger region in an otherwise uniform and continuous spectrum. It may result from emission or absorption of light in a narrow frequency range, compared with the nearby frequencies. Spectral lines are often used ...
used in
X-ray spectroscopy
X-ray spectroscopy is a general term for several Spectroscopy, spectroscopic techniques for characterization of materials by using x-ray radiation.
Characteristic X-ray spectroscopy
When an electron from the inner shell of an atom is excited b ...
*
Spectroscopic notation
*
Term symbol notation
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:X-Ray Notation
Atomic physics
X-ray spectroscopy