X-ray tube spectra

X-ray tube spectra make an essential contribution to the quantitative descr iption of experimental setups or for quantitative x-ray analysis. After an outline of the historical development of the description of tube spectra th e approaches given by Wiederschwinger, Ebel et al. Schossmann et al. and Pe lla et al. are treated in detail. Summarizing the theoretical treatment and the applications, it can be stated that both approaches give comparable re sults over a certain spectral range. Pella's approach is restricted to elec tron incidence angles of 90 degrees and application of Pella's spectral res ponses in the lower keV range should be avoided. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wi ley & Sons, Ltd.