X-RAY TUBE/ HEAD
An x-ray tube is an energy converter. It receives electrical energy and converts
it into two other forms: x-radiation and heat. Heat is an undesirable
byproduct. X-ray tube/head accelerates electrons to a high velocity with a
high-voltage field and causes them to collide with a target, the anode plate.
They are designed and constructed to maximize x-ray production and to
dissipate heat as rapidly as possible.It is a relatively simple electrical device
typically containing two principle elements: a cathode (-) and an anode (+) . As
the electrical current flows through the tube from cathode to anode, the
electrons undergo an energy loss, which results in the generation of x-
radiation.So, the positively charged anode attracts the rapidly moving,
negatively charged electrons. So, the x-rays are produced in an X-Ray tube
when electrons from cathode (emitted via thermionic emission from tungsten
wire at cathode) collide with the anode (target).
The
graph below displays the
spectrum of X rays
emitted when electrons are
accelerated through a
potential difference of 35 kV
and collided with a
molybdenum target. The
shortest wavelength X rays
produced by this process are of
about 0.035 nm.The main
causes of the radiation are
the bremsstrahlung
continuum when it starts increasing at the beginning. This is braking rays,
which is an important phenomenon in the generation of x-rays. So, it is
emitted when electrons are decelerated or braked when they are fired at a
metal target. Also, another cause of the radiation is due to both beta and
alpha radiation as they are part of the characteristic of x-rays.
Lastly, the intensity peaks are not formed like how they usually look as there
are spikey bits in the graph that are formed differently. This means there
might be some sort of up and down results.
Increasing the current high in x-rays, causes the
quality of x-rays in the number of photons on the x-
ray tube to increase as well. This is shown in the
graph with a red curve showing that it is quite high,
plus it has been labelled. Whereas, it is the same
when it comes to decreasing the current low as it
shows the graph with a green curve and labelled as
low current. But the number of photons is less due to
the current size which fits the form, however it is
An x-ray tube is an energy converter. It receives electrical energy and converts
it into two other forms: x-radiation and heat. Heat is an undesirable
byproduct. X-ray tube/head accelerates electrons to a high velocity with a
high-voltage field and causes them to collide with a target, the anode plate.
They are designed and constructed to maximize x-ray production and to
dissipate heat as rapidly as possible.It is a relatively simple electrical device
typically containing two principle elements: a cathode (-) and an anode (+) . As
the electrical current flows through the tube from cathode to anode, the
electrons undergo an energy loss, which results in the generation of x-
radiation.So, the positively charged anode attracts the rapidly moving,
negatively charged electrons. So, the x-rays are produced in an X-Ray tube
when electrons from cathode (emitted via thermionic emission from tungsten
wire at cathode) collide with the anode (target).
The
graph below displays the
spectrum of X rays
emitted when electrons are
accelerated through a
potential difference of 35 kV
and collided with a
molybdenum target. The
shortest wavelength X rays
produced by this process are of
about 0.035 nm.The main
causes of the radiation are
the bremsstrahlung
continuum when it starts increasing at the beginning. This is braking rays,
which is an important phenomenon in the generation of x-rays. So, it is
emitted when electrons are decelerated or braked when they are fired at a
metal target. Also, another cause of the radiation is due to both beta and
alpha radiation as they are part of the characteristic of x-rays.
Lastly, the intensity peaks are not formed like how they usually look as there
are spikey bits in the graph that are formed differently. This means there
might be some sort of up and down results.
Increasing the current high in x-rays, causes the
quality of x-rays in the number of photons on the x-
ray tube to increase as well. This is shown in the
graph with a red curve showing that it is quite high,
plus it has been labelled. Whereas, it is the same
when it comes to decreasing the current low as it
shows the graph with a green curve and labelled as
low current. But the number of photons is less due to
the current size which fits the form, however it is
