The number of X-ray photons produced depends on the number of electrons striking the target material (so tube current)
The anode is made of either tungsten or molybdenum. The cathode is composed of two parts: the filament made of tungsten, and a focusing cup.
A change in filament current changes the intensity of the X-ray photons.
The X-ray beam coming off the cathode material is polychromatic.
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In the photoelectric effect, all of the initial energy is transferred to an electron
Photoelectric effect in which a photon is absorbed, characteristic radiation is emitted along with photoelectrons, and possibly Auger electrons.
Steps
Probability of characteristic x-ray emission (dangerous) decreases as the atomic number of the absorber atom decreases (less protons = less possibility of radiation)
Soft tissue has lower atomic number so it’s not super frequent
Probability of characteristic x-ray emission also decreases with increasing photon energy
Interaction of an incident photon with a nucleus, which produces one (or more) ejected nuclear particle
One element becomes a different element
Super unusual so it takes so much energy
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