In radiology, the production of radiation in an anode caused by an interaction between an electron from the electron stream and an inner-shell electron of the target material. The result is an ejected electron, a positive atom, and an x-ray photon characteristic of the difference in binding energies between the atomic shells.
Radiation that arises within an atom subsequent to the ejection of an electron. The wavelength of the emitted radiation is solely determined by the element involved and the energy levels engaged. When an electron within an atom transitions from a higher level of energy to a lower one, the energy released during this transition is referred to as characteristic radiation.