Xray production Flashcards
What does Bremsstrahlung mean?
Braking radiation
How are X-rays produced?
When an electron passes near the nucleus it is slowed down and its path is deflected. Energy lost is emitted as a bremsstrahlung x-ray photon.
what is the probability of bremsstrahlung occuring?
1%. 99% of energy is converted to heat
What does I ∝ZE2 mean
intensity (I) of the bremsstrahlung radiation increases with atomic number (Z) of there target and the energy of electrons (E)
What is an electron shell?
energy level that electrons occupy around the nucleus rather than orbit
What is binding energy?
energy required to separate an atomic nucleus into protons and neutrons
What is characteristic radiation?
an atom can be excited above its ground state by absorbing energy from incoming particles. it returns to its ground state as electrons drop from higher shells to lower energy vacancies and will release a photon. The energy of photons produced is therefore dictated by the differences in binding energy between electron shells of the particular atom from which they are emitted and are termed characteristic radiation.
What is electromagnetic force and how does it influence the atom?
the force that binds the negatively charged electrons in their orbital shells around the positively charged nucleus to form atoms
what is the difference between excitation and ionisation?
Excitation: result of energy being given to an electron moving it to a higher energy level. Excitations leads to electronic relaxation eventually, which releases photon. The electron stays in the same atomic region (unlike in ionization where an electron is ejected)
ionization: when there is enough energy to remove an electron from the atom it has been ionized.
