X-ray Generation

Question 1

How were X-rays originally produced?

Answer 1

By heating a filament and then applying an electric field to this. This accelerates electrons at a copper anode and this collision released x-rays.

Question 2

What was originally used to cool the copper anode?

Answer 2

Circulating water

Question 3

Is X-ray generation performed in a vacuum?

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

What is currently used to generate X-rays?

Answer 4

A rotating anode

Question 5

What happens when electrons hit the copper anode?

Answer 5

Electrons in the copper are excited from the 1s orbital and higher orbital electrons fall down to fill the gap.

Question 6

What radiation is released when electrons fall back from 2p –> 1s?

Answer 6

Alpha radiation

Question 7

What radiation is released when electrons fall back from 3p –> 1s?

Answer 7

Beta radiation

Question 8

Do different metals produce different wavelengths of alpha and beta radiation?

Answer 8

Yes

Question 9

What is an alternative X-ray source to the rotating anode?

Answer 9

The use of liquid gallium or synchrotron

Question 10

Why is liquid gallium better for X-ray generation than a rotating anode?

Answer 10

There is no heating up of the copper - it is a liquid so is constantly providing a new surface for the electrons.

Question 11

Describe how x-rays are generated in the synchrotron?

Answer 11

Electrons are accelerated around a booster ring and then injected into a storage ring, where they travel at the speed of light. At certain points in the ring, X-rays are generated.