Production Of X-rays
Different forms of electro magnetic radiation
X-ray production is by two process
1.) Continuous Radiation
2.) Characteristic Radiation
Free Electron
NN
Bound Electron
Characteristic Radiation
M
Energies:
K shell - 70keV
L
L shell - 11keV
K
NN M shell - 2 keV
N shell - 1 keV
Case1
Photoelectron
N N
Charecteristic radiation
N N
Case2
Ionizing Radiation
Charecteristic Radiation
N
M
K Characteristic Radiation
K
NN
Note: Characteristic radiation is produced only at 70 kVp, 80 to 150 kVp it is 10%
and is negligible above 300 kVp
M
L Characteristic Radiation
K
NN
Note: Characteristic radiation is produced only at 70 kVp, 80 to 150 kVp it is 10%
and is negligible above 300 kVp
Continuous Radiation
Interaction Between Electron and Electron - Heat Production (Collisional Losses)
High Speed electron
Deflected Electron
1.) faces Repulsion
2.) Slows down
3.) loses energy in the form
of heat Bremsstrahlung Photon
Low Speed electron
Note: Heat production happens with 99% probability and decreases with energy of the
electron
Interaction Between Electron and Electron - Heat Production (Collisional Losses)
1.) Depends on electron density of the material
2.) inversely proportional to the energy of the interacting electron
(lower the energy more is the heat produced)
Interaction Between Electron and Nucleus: X-ray Production (Bremsstrahlung)
Deflected Electron
High Speed electron N
Bremsstrahlung Photon
Interaction Between Electron and Nucleus
40 keV electron + 60 keV X-ray photon
50 keV electron + 50keV X-ray photon
60 keV electron + 40 keV X-ray photon
70 keV electron + 30 keV X-ray photon
High Speed electron N
100keV
The distance between the nucleus and the high speed electron
determines the energy of the X-ray photon. Nearer the interaction
to the nucleus then more is the energy of the X-ray photon produced
Bremsstrahlung effect
1.) X-ray production varies with Z2 (square of Atomic Number)
a.) So materials with high atomic number can produce more x-rays.
b.) At the same time lot of heat(99% at diagnostic range) is produced and the
X-ray producing material should have high melting point and also
high heat dissipation capacity .
2.) Also approximately proportional to the electron energy. (more electron energy more
is the production of x-rays)
X-ray Production is by two methods
1.) Characteristic Radiation
2.) Bremsstrahlung Radiation
X-ray Machine:
X-ray Production
Kinetic energy acquired by the electrons is E= eV
where ‘e’ is the electronic charge
Thermionic emission
1.) Heat energy is produced when current
flows through a coil or wire
2.) Electrons use the heat energy and
escape from the surface of the tungsten
filament
3.) A temperature of 2200c is required to
produce sufficient thermionic emission
Block Diagram: X-ray Unit
Components of a X-ray Tube:
1.) Cathode
2.) Anode
3.) Envelope
4.) Housing
Cathode:
Tungsten is the cathode material and it emits electrons by Thermionic emission
Why tungsten is used as a cathode filament?
1. Cathode filament is a thin wire that is coiled to form a Cathode.
Tungsten can be drawn into thin wires that is quite strong.
2. Tungsten has a high melting point(3370c) .
It can withstand the high heating produced during thermionic emission and will not
vaporize.
A focusing cup encompasses the cathode filament to prevent the
divergence of electrons because of coulomb force of repulsion existing
between them and to maintain them along the axis.
Anode
Generally made of Tungsten except mammography X-ray units
which is made of molybdenum and Rhenium .
Nowadays an alloy of tungsten and rhenium is used in ordinary X-ray tubes
Why tungsten is used as a Anode material?
1.) Tungsten has a high atomic number - Bremssstrahlung effect increases with
atomic number so more X-ray is produced
2.) Tungsten has a high melting point over 3000C
a. withstands the heat produced during X-ray production
b. also dissipates the heat produced during X-ray production away from the
target
Note: Nowadays tungsten is bonded to a massive copper portion .Copper is a better conductor
of heat than tungsten. So a massive copper anode with a tungsten target embedded in it
will have efficient X-ray production along with good heat dissipation using copper. Also
in rotating anode rhenium is used along with tungsten.
X-ray tube or Envelope
Vacuum
The Space inside the tube is completely evacuated to prevent loss
of electrons (by collision with the gas molecules) which are
accelerated towards the cathode resulting in reduced speed of electrons
striking the anode and also in the variation of number of x-ray photons produced
Insulator
X-ray Tube Housing
Purpose of oil in a X-ray unit
Oil has good electrical insulating capacity and also thermal cooling properties.
1.) Oil prevents short circuiting between the grounding wires and the tube. The
space between the two is filled with mineral oil.
2.) Use of oil results in compact X-ray tubes with very high potential points placed
nearer to each other with oil between them.
3.) Also oil helps to carry away the heat produced by the X-ray tube
Heel Effect
Intensity is not uniform over the patient
and also over the film surface due to
heel effect
Thicker portion of the patient
must be placed on the cathode
side and thinner part on the
anode side
Heel effect is minimum at 45 degree anode design.
Generally diagnostic x-ray tubes have angle of 15
degrees.
Heat capacity of a
X-ray tube
At diagnostic range 99% of the
energy of
electrons impinging on the
target is converted to
heat. The target should be
capable enough of
withstanding the heat produced.
The target may melt or
breakdown if the heat generated
is more than its
heat capacity
Heat energy =kV x mA x s
Heat capacity depends on
the size, weight, material of
the target
Exposure rating Chart
The chart should be used to
find out the maximum value
of the operating parameters
that is the maximum kV,mA,S
that can be used on the machine
for a particular exposure
condition.
Burn marks on the target
1.) Many x-ray systems, including CT, have built-in safety features that will not allow
the equipment to be operated in an "overheated" condition
2.) Most CT systems have a display that shows the anode heat content as a percentage
of the rated capacity during and after a scan.
A damaged
target
because of
excessive
loading
Ensure that proper kV, mA
and S are selected to avoid
such conditions
Use Exposure rating chart.
Also take the help of physicist
If available in your hospital.
Line focus principle
Resolution needs small
area of focal spot
Heat capacity needs
large area of focal spot
Line focal spot ensures large area
for x-ray production and small
area for resolution.
Dual Focal spot
Resolution is dependent on focal spot
Small focal spot – more resolution
Applications like mammography involving
less area but requiring high resolution can
use a small focal spot.
Applications where larger area is to be
exposed need a larger focal spot
Summary of X-ray Production
Types of Basic X-ray Tube:
Stationery Anode X-ray Tube
Used in C-arm and low kV X-ray units
like dental x-ray units
Drawback:
Less Heat capacity
Rotating anode
X-ray tube
Used in Higher kV X-ray units
like Cath lab and Fluoroscopy
Applications
Speed 0f 3000rpm
Advantage:
High Heat Capacity
X-ray Production:
1.) kVp determines the energy of emitted X-rays and also the
quantity of X-rays produced
2.) mA the tube current (tube current is determined by the number of
electrons flowing from the filament towards the target) determines the
number of electrons produced
Intensity is proportional to
kVp2
mA
Energies:
K shell - 70keV
L shell - 11keV
M
M shell - 2 keV
N shell - 1 keV
L
N M
K
NN L1 L2
K beta2
69 keV
K alpha2
K beta1 K alpha1
58 keV
68 keV 59keV
Typical X-ray Spectrum at kV=80
Single Phase Genrators and Constant/Three Phase Generators
Advantages of Constant Potential Genrators
1.) Constant potential operation permits a tube to be operated at a higher
power level because of the uniform distribution of heat.
2.) Constant potential operation produces more x-radiation and increased
penetration at a given KV and MAS setting.
3.) Constant potential operation produces more heat for a given KV and
MAS setting.
Thank You