How do X-rays produce radiation?

X-rays are a naturally occurring form of electromagnetic radiation. They are produced when charged particles of sufficient energy hit a material. Over the years, scientists have shown concern over the health implications of X-rays. After all, they involve firing radiation at the patient.

How are X-rays generated by an electron beam?

First an electron from the filament collides with and removes a core electron from an atom of the target. Then an electron in a higher energy state drops down to fill the lower energy, vacant hole in the atom’s structure, emitting an X-ray photon.

How does an x-ray tube function?

The x-ray tube serves the function of creating x-ray photons from electric energy supplied by the x-ray generator. The process of creating the x-ray beam is very inefficient, with only 1\% of the electric energy converted to x-ray photons and the remaining 99\% converted to heat in the x-ray tube assembly.

How are the X rays produced when the electrons hit the metal plate?

Bremsstrahlung interactions, the primary source of x-ray photons from an x-ray tube, are produced by the sudden stopping, breaking or slowing of high-speed electrons at the target. If a high- speed electron hits the nucleus of a target atom, all its kinetic energy is transformed into a single x-ray photon.

What does an x-ray tube produce?

X-ray tube, also called Roentgen tube, evacuated electron tube that produces X rays by accelerating electrons to a high velocity with a high-voltage field and causing them to collide with a target, the anode plate.

What are the two types of radiation produced at the anode?

The anode is where electrons are decelerated; the energy from deceleration is then released in the form of heat and X-rays (photons). Approximately 99\% of the energy is emitted in the form of heat and 1\% in the form of X-rays. There are two types of anodes: stationary anodes and rotating anodes.

What is the source of x-ray photons in the tube?

X-ray tubes produce x-ray photons by accelerating a stream of electrons to energies of several hundred kilovolts with velocities of several hundred kilometers per hour and colliding them into a heavy target material. The abrupt acceleration of the charged particles (electrons) produces Bremsstrahlung photons.

Which type of radiation initially comes from the x-ray tube?

X-rays are generated via interactions of the accelerated electrons with electrons of tungsten nuclei within the tube anode. There are two types of X-ray generated: characteristic radiation and bremsstrahlung radiation.

How is tungsten used in xrays?

Tungsten is the material of choice for the target on x-ray tube for general radiography is for 3 main reasons: Thermal Conductivity – Tungsten has a thermal conductivity nearly equal to that of copper. It is therefore an efficient metal for dissipating the heat produced. 3.