1. X-ray Production Module

Steps of X-ray Production

1. current runs through filament causes it to become extremely hot

2. Heated filament dissociated the electrons (free electrons) from the metal due to the heat (thermionic emission)

3. negative electron cloud around filament occurs (Space Charge)

4. Electrons are accelerated towards the anode via kVp (negative charge)

5. Electrons attracted to positive anode

6. Electrons are decelerated by hitting anode

7. Decelerating energy is released as heat (99%) and x-rays (1%)

Thermionic Emission

release of electrons in the response to heat

What key words in the video can you relate to mA?

number of electrons and number of photons

What accelerates the electrons over the anode?

kVp

What decelerates the electrons?

anode target

What percentage is heat vs. x-ray photons at the anode?

Heat = 99%

X-Ray = 1%

Bremsstrahlung radiation

"Braking radiation." The sudden deceleration of electrons as they interact with highly positively charged nuclei (passing by)

Characteristic radiation

produced when a high-speed electron dislodges an inner-shell electron from the tungsten atom and causes ionization of that atom

What electron energy does characteristics radiation occur at?

minimum of 69.5 kVp

Cascade Effect

outer shell electron drops in to fill a inner shell vacancy

Does bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation happen at the tube or the patient?

tube

Does bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation start with an electron or photon?

electron

The electron is represented by a line or wave?

line

The photon is represented by a line or wave?

sine wave

What is the primary way x-ray photons are created?

bremsstrahlung radiation

Energy of K shell

69.5

Energy of L shell

12

Energy of M shell

3

Energy of N shell

0.5