X-Rays Flashcards
Simple X-Ray Tube Labels (7)
- High Potential Difference
- Thick walled glass chamber to maintain a high vacuum
- Heated metal filament cathode
- Outer tube housing of steel, lined with lead
- Useful beam of X-rays
- Thin window to allow emission of X-rays
- Electrical connection
Method of Producing X-Rays Step 1 (3)
Producing Electrons
- Cathode, tungsten filament (similar to lightbulb)
- Heat filament by passing electric currentthrough it
- Electrons “boil” off filament and produce a cloud of electrons (known as thermionic emission)
Method of Producing X-Rays Step 2
Accelerating Electrons
- Apply a large P.D between cathode and anode, creating electric field
Method of Producing X-Rays Step 3 (3)
Decelerating Electrons
- Smash high energy electrons into anode target material (rapid deceleration)
- Electrons interact with nucleus of target atom to produce a continuous x-ray spectrum
- Known as Bremsstrahlung - breaking radiation
X-Ray Efficiency
1% of energy –> X-rays
99% of energy –> Heat
Energy of X-ray depends on the …
… proximity of electron to nucleus
Maximum energy X-rays created when …
… all electron’s energy lost in the collision with nucleus
What are Characteristic X-Rays? (6)
- Alternative to bremsstrahlung
- An inelastic interaction with orbiting electrons
- Electrons ionize an orbital electron of target atom
- Inner shell electron rearrange to fill vacancy
- Change in energy produces a line spectrum of photons
- (Energy depends on binding energy)
Charactersitic X-Ray Diagram (2)
- Collision of electrons, emission of delta-ray & creation of vacancy
- Fillin of vancancy by outer electron, emission of X-Ray
Shape of Diagnostic X-ray spectrum depend on what factors? (5)
- Potential applied across x-ray tube
- Current
- Filtration
- Z
- Waveform
What is a K-line?
The peak of an x-ray line
Spectrum Characterisitics of Max & Min Energy (2)
Max Energy - potential applied across X-ray tube
Min Energy - depends on absorption of low energy X-rays in:
- anode
- Exit port of tube
- Cooling Oil
- Any additional filters
What does Filtration do? (2)
- Unwanted soft radiation removed to save skin dose, therefore hardened beam
- Attenuator preferentially absorbs lower energy (soft) photons
Cathode Assembly
Part - Material - Properties (2)
Filament
Coiled Tungsten
- Good thermionic emitter
- Hard wearing
Focusing Cup
Nickel/stainles steel
- Poor thermionic emitter
- High melting point
What is the focussing cup? (2)
- Fits around filament to direct electrons to a small focal spot on the anode
- Otherwise large focus and poor resolution
- Focusing cup may be biased or unbiased
- Biased = tighter potential lines, tighter electron projectory.
Electrics of X-Ray Tube
Part - Description (3)
Filament Current
- Boils electrons off cathode filament
- ~5A @ 10V
- controls # X-rays produced
High Voltage
- attracts -‘ve e from cathode to anode
- 000’s of volts
- controls max x-ray energy
Tube Current
- current of e crossing X-ray tube to produce X-rays
- mA fluroscopy, 100mA for radiography