X-ray production and emission

Question 1

What 3 events occur when the electron-cloud approaches the anode?

Answer 1

• The cathode’s electron loses their kinetic energy
• Electrons at the target will result in heat production
• the remainder will produce Bremsstrahlung and Characteristic radiation

Question 2

What happens with kVp with an increase in X-photon production?

Answer 2

-an increase in kVp

Question 3

How many photons as a percentage are at 60 kVp? 100 kVp?

Answer 3

60kVp: 0.5% x-photons
100kVp: 1.0% x-photons

Question 4

What is Bremsstrahlung radiation?

Answer 4

-Breaking/slowed-down radiation

Question 5

How is the intensity of Bremsstrahlung radiation related to the target?

Answer 5

-The intensity of Bremsstrahlung radiation is directly proportional to the square of the atomic number of the target

Question 6

How are Characteristic X-rays produced?

Answer 6

-when projectile electrons interact with inner K-shell atomic electrons

Question 7

What kind of X-ray is K-Characteristic X-rays the most important?

Answer 7

-Diagnostic X-rays

Question 8

What is the difference between Characteristic X-ray’s spectrum and Bremsstrahlung’s spectrum?

Answer 8

• Characteristic X-rays have fixed energies and have a fixed spectrum
• Bremsstrahlung’s spectrum varies between 0 to the highest peak (number of X-rays are 1/3 of maximum energy)

Question 9

What are the 4 factors that influence the shape of an X-ray spectrum?

Answer 9

• electrons do not all have peak kinetic energy
• For each successive interaction, a projectile electron has less energy
• low energy x-rays are absorbed in the target
• External filtration is always added to remove low energy x-rays from the x-rays beam. This will manifest with higher quality x-ray beam and reduction in patient’s radiation dose