Duane-Hunt displacement law

Principle

X-ray spectra of an X-ray tube are measured in an energy dispersive manner with a semiconductor detector and with various anode voltages. Duane and Hunt's  law of displacement is verified with the aid of the maximum energy of the bremsspectrum.

Tasks

1. Recording of the X-ray spectrum that is emitted by the copper anode for various anode voltages U_a.
2. Calculation of the minimum wavelength of the photons based on the maximum energy of the bremsspectrums.
3. Graphical representation of the relationship between the anode voltage and the minimum wavelength of the bremsspectrum.

Learning objectives

• Bremsstrahlung
• Characteristic X-radiation
• Energy levels
• Photo energy
• Semiconductor detectors
• Multichannel analysers