X-Ray Production

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to X-ray production, X-ray emission tubes, and the associated physics principles.

X-ray emission tubes

Devices used to produce X-rays by colliding electrons with metal.

Characteristic X-rays

X-rays produced by knocking electrons out of the shells of an atom.

Quantum state

The discrete energy levels of electrons within an atom.

Kinetic energy

The energy that an electron possesses due to its motion.

Braking radiation (Bremsstrahlung)

Radiation produced when an electron is decelerated by the electric field of a nucleus.

Velocity change

A change in the speed or direction of an electron moving towards a nucleus.

Energy conservation

The principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Higher energy level

The state of an electron further from the nucleus with more energy.

Lower energy level

The state of an electron closer to the nucleus with less energy.

Energy gap

The difference in energy levels that an electron transitions between.

X-ray frequency

The frequency of X-rays determined by the change in quantum state.

Target metal

The metal used in an X-ray tube where electrons collide to produce X-rays.

Characteristically defined amounts

Specific energy levels associated with characteristic X-rays.

Kinetic energy of the electron

Energy due to the motion of the electron before interaction with the metal.

Continuous spectrum

A range of X-ray energies produced by Bremsstrahlung, not in distinct peaks.

Intensity spikes

Sharp increases in the intensity of X-rays at specific energy levels.

Electron volts (eV)

A unit of energy defined as the amount of energy gained by an electron when accelerated through one volt.

Positive charge of nucleus

The charge of protons in an atomic nucleus that affects electron motion.

Lower Quantum state

A quantum state where an electron has less energy.

Higher Quantum state

A quantum state where an electron has more energy.

Energy level transition

The movement of an electron from one energy level to another.

Plank's constant

A fundamental physical constant used to calculate energy and frequency in quantum mechanics.

Maximum energy emission

The highest possible energy an X-ray can have when an electron is completely stopped.

Inversely related frequency and wavelength

The relationship where increasing frequency results in decreasing wavelength.

Excited state

An energy state of an electron that is higher than its ground state.

Energy level diagram

A diagram that represents the different energy levels of electrons in an atom.

Energy emitted as X-ray

The energy released during an electron transition that results in the emission of an X-ray.

Kinetic energy transfer

The process by which kinetic energy is converted to X-ray energy.

Surface interaction

The engagement of electrons with the target metal during X-ray production.

Vibrational energy change

Change in energy associated with electron movement between energy levels.

Spike intensity in characteristic X-rays

Higher occurrences of certain energy levels in characteristic X-ray production.

Electron acceleration

The increase in energy due to the influence of the nucleus on an incoming electron.

Negative charge of electron

The fundamental charge associated with electrons.

Shifting energy outputs

Variability in emitted X-ray energy based on electron interactions with the nucleus.

Graph representation

Visual depiction of energy distributions in X-ray emission.

Energy input equals energy output

The principle that the total energy before interaction equals the total after.

Distinct peaks in X-ray emission

Specific energy levels at which characteristic X-rays are emitted.

Graph area under the curve

Indicates the total energy emission in a spectrum.

Metal states during interaction

Conditions of metal that affect the energy transferred from the electron.

Transition from higher to lower energy level

Movement of an electron down to a lower energy state after knocking another out.

Bremsthalung X-ray production

Production of X-rays due to deceleration of electrons around a nucleus.

Energy difference in transitions

The difference in energy between two quantum states affecting X-ray frequency.

Characteristic x-ray frequency

Frequency determined by the specific energy levels in a target material.

Accelerating potential

The voltage through which an electron is accelerated before interacting with metal.

Quantum state filling

The process by which an electron fills a vacancy left by another knocked out.

Minimum wavelength of X-rays

The shortest wavelength associated with the highest energy emission.