X-ray Fluorescence Art Authentication · AI Generator #GEN-B6B07444

Physics · modern-physics

Problem

An art conservator uses X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to authenticate a painting suspected to be a Van Gogh. The technique involves bombarding the painting with high-energy X-rays to knock out inner shell electrons from atoms in the paint pigments, causing the emission of characteristic X-rays when outer electrons fall down to fill the vacancies. The conservator detects a strong X-ray emission line at wavelength

\lambda = 0.154\;\text{nm}

from lead atoms in the white paint. This corresponds to the

K_\alpha

transition where an electron falls from the

L

shell to the

K

shell. For lead, the

K

shell binding energy is

E_K = 88.0\;\text{keV}

and the

L

shell binding energy is

E_L = 15.9\;\text{keV}

. What is the energy of the detected X-ray photon, and does this match the expected energy difference between the electron shells?

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