What is produced by characteristic x-rays when an electron moves to fill vacancies in lower energy levels?

Characteristic x-rays are produced when electrons transition from higher energy levels to lower energy levels in an atom, filling vacancies created by the ejection of inner electrons. When this transition occurs, energy is released in the form of photons.

The key aspect of characteristic x-rays is that they have discrete energy levels, meaning each transition corresponds to a specific energy difference between the orbitals. This results in x-ray photons that have fixed, or discrete, energies and frequencies characteristic of the element involved. Each element has its unique electron configuration and energy level differences, leading to a specific pattern of x-ray emissions for different elements, which is why they are described as characteristic.

In contrast, other types of x-ray radiation, such as Bremsstrahlung radiation, result in a continuous spectrum due to a range of energy losses. This distinguishes characteristic x-rays as having definite values of energy and frequency associated directly with the specific transitions of electrons between quantized energy levels in the atom.