X-Rays (2) Flashcards
X-Rays
The product of an energy transfer between a high-speed electron and a dense test material.
How are X-Rays controlled?
A Generating Machine (X-Ray tube) which is controlled electrically.
How do we generate X-Rays?
Acceleration of an electron and decelerated rapidly, due to an interaction with other atomic particles.
- Source of electrons (heated wire filament)
- Way to accelerate electrons (voltage)
- Target to receive electron impact
Why do we need a cooling system in an X-Ray Tube?
Only 2% of the energy generated produces X-Ray radiation the remaining 98% is in the form of heat.
- Without cooling the tube would “burn-out”
Atomic Processes/Types of X-Rays
- Characteristic X-Rays
- Bremsstrahlung X-Rays
Characteristic X-Rays
Where the “striking electron” dislodges an electron in the K-shell, causing an electron from the M-shell to replace it releasing energy or a “secondary X-Ray photons” and so on through the shells.
- Energy produced from movement is the difference between energies within shells
Bremsstrahlung X-Rays
- German word means braking
When an electron strikes an atom and is slowed down by the binding forces as it passes, giving off some of its energy (an X-Ray photon and heat) - Amount of energy produced is random, depending on difference between energy from the original velocity and slowed velocity.
- Most X-Rays are produced this way