7. Conclusion

X-ray spectra of complex mixtures or compounds often include numerous lines, most of which can be identified using the documentation supplied by the equipment manufacturers. Interpretation of other emissions will be facilitated by the use of the tables presented in this article:

• observed wavelengths can be compared with tabulated wavelengths with greater precision;

• tables giving the approximate values of relative intensities in each series and fluorescence efficiencies will enable you to qualitatively assess the possibility of observing faint lines and, by eliminating lines whose appearance is considered unlikely, reduce the number of ambiguities.

Whatever the excitation process, if one and only one electron gap is created in a K or L layer, it will even be possible to assess...