X-ray production and types of x-ray beam

Approximately 1% of the kinetic energy of the electron

is used for the production of x-rays, making the process inefficient.

Increasing tube current (mA)

increases heat production inside the tube, but the efficiency of x-ray production remains constant.

Increasing kV

increases both heat production and x-ray production.

60 kVp

0.5% of X-ray

100 kVp

1% of X-ray

20 mV

70% of X-ray

In that 1%

there are two interactions, Characteristic and Bremsstrahlung Radiation

Characteristic Radiation

being Projectile electron interacts with the inner shell electron of the target atom.

Bremsstrahlung Radiation

being projectile electron does not interact with the electron of the target atom but lose its kinetic energy with the interaction to its nuclear field.

K X-rays

because they result from outer shell electron transitions into the K-shell, another term for characteristics

Only the K-characteristic x-rays of tungsten are

useful for imaging.

Any other shell electron transitioning

are not useful to diagnostic imaging

at least 70 and above

Characteristic Radiation only can happen with kVp of

Braking Radiation

another term for bremsstrahlung radiation (germany)

In the diagnostic range

most x-rays are bremsstrahlung x-ray

0-70 KeV

a bremsstrahlung radiation can have energies from

65kVp

100% of Bremsstrahlung

70 kVp

85-90% of Bremsstrahlung

100 kVp

85% of Bremsstrahlung

Primary Beam

It refers to the x-ray beam prior to any interaction with the patient, grid, table or image intensifier and are the x-rays emitted from the window of the x-ray tube.

Exit/Remnant Beam

It refers to the x-ray that passes through the patient and interact with the image receptor

Leakage Radiation

It refers to the x-rays that escape through the protective housing

Off-Focus/Stem/Extrafocal Radiation

Refers to the radiation produced from the x-ray tube wherein the electrons bounce off the focal spot and land on other areas of the target which in turn produces radiation.