Notebook #15

REVISED
X-Ray Production

I.
II.

III.

IV.

Electrons start at cathode

a. Thermionic cloud formed around filament
Electrons at cathode are accelerated towards anode
a. Potential difference created inside x-ray tube forces electrons to move from cathode to
anode
i. Electrons travel at half speed of light
ii. Moving electrons named incident electrons
Incident electrons interact with anode target
a. Kinetic energy of incident electrons transferred to target atoms in multiple ways
b. Target interactions take place within 0.25-0.5 mm of target surface
i. Heat production
1. Represents > 99% of ALL target interactions (not USEFUL)
2. Incident electrons excite target outer-shell electrons
a. No ionization occurs
3. Produces infrared radiation (heat)
ii. Bremsstrahlung interactions
1. Represents majority of USEFUL target interactions
2. Incident electrons approach target nucleus, slows down, and changes
direction
a. No ionization occurs
3. Energy lost during process forms bremsstrahlung x-ray photon
a. Bremsstrahlung photon energy = entrance kinetic energy exit
kinetic energy
b. Bremsstrahlung photon energy ranges 0 kVp (max voltage)
iii. Characteristic interactions
1. Represents minority of USEFUL target interactions
2. Incident electron knocks target inner-shell electron from orbit
a. Ionization occurs
3. Target outer-shell electron moves to fill vacancy of inner-shell
a. Process repeats until atom is stabilized (characteristic cascade)
4. Difference between binding energies of outer and inner shells forms
characteristic x-ray photon
a. Characteristic photon energy = inner-shell binding energy
outer-shell binding energy
b. Characteristic photon energy is determined by target material
Primary (useful) x-ray beam energy is represented by spectrum
a. Primary beam = bremsstrahlung photons + characteristic photons
i. Bremsstrahlung photon energy represent continuous spectrum from 0 kVp
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Notebook #15

V.

REVISED

ii. Characteristic photon energy represent discrete value based on targets K-shell
binding energy
1. Tungsten characteristic peak at 69.5 keV
2. Molybdenum characteristic peak at 18 keV
iii. Average primary beam photon energy = 30-40% kVp
Technical factors affect x-ray production
a. Quantitative
i. Current (mA) / time (s) / number of electrons (mAs)
ii. Electron energy (kVp)
1. Direct relationship with total number of x-ray photons produced
b. Qualitative
i. Electron energy (kVp)
1. Direct relationship with total number of x-ray photons produced AND
energy level of photons produced
a. < 70 kVp: 100% bremsstrahlung photons + 0% characteristic
photons (Tungsten target)
b. 80-100 kVp: 80-90% bremsstrahlung photons + 10-20%
characteristic photons (Tungsten target)
ii. Filtration
1. Inverse relationship with total number of x-ray photons produced
(filters out the quantity of photons)
2. Direct relationship with energy level of photons produced
iii. Generator efficiency
1. Direct relationship with total number of x-ray photons produced

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