: ''For the software testing tools, see xUnit.'' The x unit (symbol xu) is a unit of length approximately equal to 0.1 pm (10⁻¹³ m). It is used to quote the

wavelength In physics, the wavelength is the spatial period of a periodic wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. It is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase on the wave, such as two adjacent crests, tr ...

X-ray An X-ray, or, much less commonly, X-radiation, is a penetrating form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Most X-rays have a wavelength ranging from 10 picometers to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30&nb ...

s and

gamma ray A gamma ray, also known as gamma radiation (symbol γ or \gamma), is a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei. It consists of the shortest wavelength electromagnetic waves, typically ...

s. Originally defined by the Swedish physicist Manne Siegbahn (1886–1978) in 1925, the x unit could not at that time be measured directly; the definition was instead made in terms of the spacing between planes of the

calcite Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It is a very common mineral, particularly as a component of limestone. Calcite defines hardness 3 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, based on scratc ...

crystals used in the measuring apparatus. One x unit was set at of the spacing of the (200) planes of calcite at 18

°C The degree Celsius is the unit of temperature on the Celsius scale (originally known as the centigrade scale outside Sweden), one of two temperature scales used in the International System of Units (SI), the other being the Kelvin scale. The d ...

. In modern usage, there are two separate x units, which are defined in terms of the wavelengths of the two most commonly used X-ray lines in

X-ray crystallography X-ray crystallography is the experimental science determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal, in which the crystalline structure causes a beam of incident X-rays to diffract into many specific directions. By measuring the angles ...

: * the copper x unit (symbol xu(Cu Kα₁)) is defined so that the wavelength of the Kα₁ line of

copper Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from la, cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pink ...

is exactly 1537.400 xu(Cu Kα₁); * the molybdenum x unit (symbol xu(Mo Kα₁)) is defined so that the wavelength of the Kα₁ line of molybdenum is exactly 707.831 xu(Mo Kα₁). The 2006

CODATA The Committee on Data of the International Science Council (CODATA) was established in 1966 as the Committee on Data for Science and Technology, originally part of the International Council of Scientific Unions, now part of the International ...

recommended values for these units are: :1 xu(Cu Kα₁) = , :1 xu(Mo Kα₁) = .

References

{{reflist Units of length Customary units of measurement X-rays

See also

References