PRODUCTION &

PROPERTIES OF X-RAYS
DR. Nazifa Tabassum
RESIDENT
RADIOLOGY & IMAGING (BSMMU)
• X ray belongs to a group of radiations
called electromagnetic radiation.
• X rays are produced by energy
conversion when a fast moving
stream of electrons suddenly
decelerated in the “target” anode of
an X ray tube.
• X ray tube is made of pyrex glass that
encloses a vacuum containing two
electrodes( anode & cathode).
• Electrons are produced by a heated
tungsten filament and accelerated by
a high voltage difference to hit the
target anode where X rays are
produced.
 Electromagnetic Radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is the transport of energy through space as a
combination of electric and magnetic fields.
Common properties of EMR
• The waves are composed of transverse vibrations of electrical and
magnetic field.
• Waves needs no medium.
• EMR are unaffected by electric and magnetic field .
• All EMR travel in straight line.
• All the radiations obey the duality principle. Radiations have both
particle and wave characteristics ,and which property dominates
depends on objects energy and mass.
Origin of EMR
• When an electrical charge is motionless ,a static electrical field
sorrounds it.
• But when,the charge get accelerated, a magnetic field is produced
perpendicularly to that electrical field.
• With motion , the electrical and magnetic field will vary and interact
with each other.
• This interaction between electrical and magnetic field results in loss
of energy.
• Thus an accelerating charge radiates energy in a form known as
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION.
X-RAY TUBE
Components of X RAY tube
• Evacuated envelope (vacume) made of pyrex glass.
• Cathode(negative electrode) with tungsten filament.
• Anode(positive electrode) with tungsten target.
• Metallic focusing cup.
• High voltage source connecting cathode and anode.
• Low voltage filament circuit.
Efficacy of X RAY: • Efficacy is the percentage of
electrons kinetic energy
converted to X RAYs.
• % Efficacy =K* Z* Kvp
•Light energy • K= 1× 104
Kinetic •Heat • Z= atomic number
energyy • Kvp=maximum voltage across
of energy- the tube causing acceleration of
electron 99% all electrons.
• Kev=kinetic energy of electron
•X RAY-1%
TUBE CURRENT: Speed of light:
80% of light when 80 kvp is applied.
Number of electron • Electron stream: mA
flowing per second • Kev=kinetic energy of electron(unit)
from filament to target. • 1 eV= energy of an electron is 1 eV when an
electron gains as it is accelerated by a
potential difference of 1 volt.
• 1 Kev = energy of an electron is 1 Kev when
an electron gains as it is accelerated by a
mAs potential difference of 1 kilo volt/1000 volt.
• Kvp=peaked kilo voltage
• KV{kilo voltage} range in diagnostic
radiology = 30 – 140 Kv
How X RAY is produced:
• When fast moving electron stream from cathode undergoes rapid
deceleration at anode end,kinetic energy of electron converted into
another type of energy and x ray is produced.
• Following condition required for X RAY production:

1. Separation of electron.
2. Production of high speed electron.
3. Focusing of electrons.
4. Stopping of high speed electron at target.
Properties of X RAY:
• Quality : • Quantity:
Average energy of an X RAY  number of X RAY photon in the
beam. beam.
 ENERGY ∞ penetrating ability.
Quality of an X RAY denotes • Intensity ∞ Kvp2
ability to penetrate the matter.
KeV
2 processes for
producing X RAYS:

1. Bremstrahlung radiation:
electron interact with nucleus
of target atom.

2.Characteristics radiation:
electron interact with innershell
electron of target atom.
Bremstrahlung radiation :

• ΔE=E1 - E2
Properties of brems radiation:

• Bremstrahlung radiation involves interaction • Amount of X RAY photon energy

of incident electron with nucleus of tungsten depends on
atom.
Distance between nucleus and high
• Electron approaches nucleus,attracted toward velocity incident electrons.
nucleus and deflected from its original path.
• Electron get slow down and lose some energy. Atomic number of target.
• This lost energy radiates as BREMS X ray
photon.
Targets with higher atomic number
• Targets of higher atomic number are more are more efficient to produce more
efficient to produce brems radiation. qualityful X RAY.
(more nuclear attraction=
• Brems radiation is polyenergetic radiation. more deceleration of incident electron =
more qualityful Brems X ray production)
Properties of characteristic
radiation:
• Characteristic radiation involves • There is cascade of characteristic
interaction of incident electron ray.
with orbital electron of target • Energy of characteristic radiation
atom.( usually involves is difference in energy level
innershell- k shell electron). between shells.
• It occurs when incident • Energy of characteristic radiation
electrons energy is slightly is always specific for specific
higher than binding energy of element.
orbital electron.
• In case of tungsten target,
• Charcteristic radiation is a characteristic X ray is produced if
monoenergetic radiation. the incident electrons kinetic
energy is just above 69 Kev.
Properties of characteristic
radiation:
• Characteristic radiation involves
interaction of incident electron
with orbital electron of target
atom.
• It occurs when incident electrons
energy is slightly higher than
binding energy of orbital electron.
• Charcteristic radiation is a
monoenergetic radiation.
Characteristics X RAY:
Interaction of X RAY with matter:
Interaction of x ray with radiation
X RAY attenuation:
Types of interaction of X Ray with matter:

1. Photoelectric interaction
(when incident photon
energy is slightly greater
than inner shell binding
energy)
2. Coherent/classical
scattering
(<10 Kev)
3. Compton interaction
(above 70 Kev)
4. Pair production
(atleast 1.02 Mev)
5. Photo -disintegration.
(> 8 Mev/7-15 Mev)
Coherant /classical scattering:properties-
Occurs with low energy
radiation (<10 Kev).
No electron removed.
No loss of energy.
No ionization of tissue
atom.
It occurs when the
incident X RAY energy is
less in comparison to the
ionization energy of the
tissue atom.
Properties of photoelectric interaction:
• Incoming X ray photon eject tightly bound
innershell electron(usually k shell).
• Photoelectric interaction occurs when
energy of incident X RAY photon is slightly
greater than innershell binding energy.
• Energy of incident photon =
Binding energy of k shell + Kinetic energy
of ejected electron.
• In diagnostic radiology 75% interactions
are photoelectric.
• End product:
Photoelectron
Positive ion.
Characteristic radiation.
Properties of Compton interaction:
• Incident photon with relative high energy
interact with loosely bound outermost shell
electron.
• Most common interaction in radiotherapy.
Kinetic energy of incident X ray photon =
1. energy to dislodge outer shell electron
2. emerging scattered photon with less
energy.
• Photon energy above 70 Kev-Compton
interaction predominance.
• End products:
 removal of electron =recoil/compton
electron.
 Scattered photon
(greater the angle,lower the energy)
Fogging effect(noise interfering recorded details)
 Positive ion.
Properties of pair production:
• Occurs when incident photon
energy atleast 1.02 Mev.
• HIGH energy Incident photon
interact with nucleus and the
energy of photon absorbed in
nucleus .
• END PRODUCT:
1. Positron
2. Negatron
• Positron later combine with
electron and give rise to two
photons of .511 MeV in opposite
direction.(Annihilation reaction)
• Occurs with extremely high
energy photon.
• (7 -15 Mev )
• The photon must have
sufficient energy to overcome
nuclear binding energy.
THANK YOU