Röntgenwellenlänge

Röntgenwellenlänge refers to the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation in the X-ray part of the spectrum. X-rays have wavelengths ranging from about 10 picometers to 10 nanometers, which corresponds to photon energies between approximately 100 electronvolts (eV) and 100 kiloelectronvolts (keV). The concept of Röntgenwellenlänge is fundamental in understanding X-ray phenomena such as diffraction, absorption, and emission.

The discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1895 revolutionized many scientific and medical fields. The precise wavelength of an X-ray photon is inversely proportional to its energy. This relationship is described by the Planck-Einstein relation, E = hc/λ, where E is energy, h is Planck's constant, c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength.

In X-ray diffraction, the wavelength of the incident X-rays is crucial for determining the spacing of atoms within crystalline structures. Different materials absorb and transmit X-rays of specific wavelengths to varying degrees, a property exploited in medical imaging and material analysis. X-ray spectroscopy analyzes the characteristic wavelengths of X-rays emitted by a material when excited, providing information about its elemental composition and electronic structure. The term "Röntgen" in Röntgenwellenlänge acknowledges Röntgen's pioneering work in this area of physics.