In crystallographic studies the scattered intensities are increased when the wavelength of the radiation is similar to the distance between scattering centers. Other energy sources such as electrons and neutrons are also used to in diffraction studies. X Rays can be generated by conventional generators, by nuclear fission, by synchrotrons, and by plasma sources.
Conventional generators are by far the most widely used sources of X rays in the laboratory.
X Rays for crystallographic studies are typically generated by bombarding a metal target with an energetic beam of electrons. The electrons are accelerated towards the target by a large applied potential between the e- source and the target. Actually two types of X rays are emitted in this process. X Rays are emitted in a continuous band of white radiation as well as a series of lines that are characteristic of the target material. White Radiation Some of these collisions, or rapid decelerations of the electrons, result in the emission of a continuous spectrum of X rays called white radiation or Bremsstrahlung .