Rad 119 Chap 8 Xray prodution SP

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

X-ray Production

The process by which high-energy electrons interact with a target material to produce X-rays.

Bremsstrahlung Interactions

Interactions where incident electrons are deflected by the electric field of atomic nuclei, resulting in the emission of X-ray photons.

Characteristic Interactions

Interactions where an incident electron knocks out an inner shell electron, causing other electrons to fill the vacancy, and energy is released as X-ray photons.

Kinetic Energy

The energy possessed by an object due to its motion, which is converted to X-ray photons when high-speed electrons interact with a target.

X-ray Emission Spectrum

A graph displaying the energies (or wavelengths) of X-rays emitted from a source as a result of Bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation.

mAs Control

Regulates the quantity of electrons striking the target in an X-ray tube, affecting the number of X-ray photons produced.

kVp Control

Regulates the quality of the X-ray beam, affecting the kinetic energy of incident electrons and the resultant X-ray photon energy.

Ionizing Radiation

Radiation with enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, creating ions, including X-rays and gamma rays.

Non-ionizing Radiation

Radiation that does not carry enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules, such as microwaves and radio waves.

Thermoionic Emission

The release of electrons from a heated material, which can become part of an X-ray tube's electron cloud.

Tungsten Anode

The target material in an X-ray tube where high-speed electrons collide to produce X-rays.

Binding Energy

The energy required to displace an electron from its orbital shell, crucial in characteristic interactions.

Photon Energy

The energy of a photon, which is determined by its wavelength and frequency.

X-ray Tube Components

The various parts of an X-ray tube, including the cathode, anode, envelope, and filament.

Characteristic Cascade

The process of filling vacancy in inner electron shells, resulting in the emission of characteristic X-ray photons.