Modern Diagnostic X-Ray Sources, 2nd Edition

Chapter 2

Physics of generation of bremsstrahlung

Generation of bremsstrahlung is primarily a heat management. Electron bombardment heats the body of the rotating anode to up to 1,500°C and its focal spot to nearly 3,000°C.

Ranked by decreasing wavelength, X-rays or Roentgen rays (also pronounced “Rantken rays”) occupy the high-frequency part of the electromagnetic spectrum in the series comprising radio waves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, soft and hard X-rays, and gamma radiation. X-rays were first artificially produced by stopping electrons in glass and other materials. Thus, the notion bremsstrahlung (brake radiation) ...