Calculation of Depth Distribution Functions for Characteristic and for Continuous Radiation

Starting from empirically determined quantities of electron scattering, a model has been developed which allows the calculation of depth distribution functions for characteristic and continuous radiation. It is shown that both the total generated intensities of characteristic radiation and the distributions in depth are predicted accurately. The deviations in these values with regard to the quantification of the intensities are generally less than 5% when compared with those given by the model of Pouchou and Pichoir. The calculation of depth distribution curves for continuous radiation reveals that the differences between characteristic and continuous curves are larger than commonly expected. These differences depend on the overvoltage and on the atomic number.