Final answer:
Vaporized tungsten atoms can either return to the filament to prolong its life in a light bulb or disperse and radiate energy as infrared radiation. In x-ray tubes, they absorb energy and emit characteristic x-rays.
Step-by-step explanation:
When tungsten metal vaporizes, the atoms can collide with the atoms of an inert gas within a contained environment (like a light bulb) and return to the filament. This recycling process helps to lengthen the life of the light bulb's filament. If the tungsten is not in a controlled environment, the vaporized atoms may spread out and the heat will eventually radiate to space as infrared radiation.
In more specific scenarios, such as in x-ray tubes, vaporized tungsten atoms absorb energy from impinging electrons, which raises the temperature of the metal and contributes to the production of characteristic x-rays when inner-shell vacancies are filled. These characteristic x-rays have large photon energy due to the heavy nature of tungsten and its tightly bound inner-shell electrons, correlating with the high energy input needed to create such emissions.