Why Bremsstrahlung <20keV for Tungsten?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the absence of Bremsstrahlung radiation for energies below 20 keV in tungsten X-ray tubes. Key factors influencing this phenomenon include the voltage of the X-ray tube, the proximity of electrons to the tungsten nuclei, and the atomic number of tungsten. Participants emphasize the need for log-scale representation in graphs to accurately depict photon output, particularly below 20 keV, where relative output appears negligible. The rapid increase in tungsten's absorption around 20 keV is also highlighted as a critical point in understanding this behavior.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Bremsstrahlung radiation principles
  • Familiarity with X-ray tube operation and thermionic emission
  • Knowledge of photon energy and atomic number effects
  • Graph interpretation skills, particularly in logarithmic scales
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of X-ray tube voltage on Bremsstrahlung radiation output
  • Study the relationship between atomic number and photon emission in X-ray targets
  • Learn about the significance of log-scale graphs in scientific data representation
  • Explore materials used for X-ray tube windows and their impact on soft X-ray transmission
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, radiologists, and engineers involved in X-ray technology and radiation physics will benefit from this discussion, particularly those focusing on X-ray tube design and optimization.

cemtu
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TL;DR
Why isn't there Bremsstrahlung Radiation for Energy less than 20 keV for Tungsten?
enter image description here


https://www.researchgate.net/figure...-shown-for-a-tungsten-anode-with_fig4_8365056

Fast electrons produce X-rays in the anode of an X-ray tube through two different methods. The first one is the interaction of electrons with the nuclei of the target atom. As an electron passes near a nucleus, the positive charge of the nucleus affects the negative charge of the electron, attracting it towards itself and changing its direction.

This causes the electron to undergo decelerated motion and, consequently, lose energy. The kinetic energy lost by the electron is emitted as a photon. The radiation produced in this way is called "general radiation" or "bremsstrahlung."

Bremsstruhlung Radiation's Energy Magnitude depends on,

  1. the voltage of X-Ray Tube that accelerates and gives kinetic energy to electron
  2. how close does an electron passes near a nucleus
  3. atomic number (element type, Z) of that nucleus
So,
  • why isn't there Bremsstrahlung Radiation for Energy less than 20 keV for Tungsten?
  • Is it about the source of thermionic emission of the electron source, which bombards the cathode? So no start of bombardment(emission of the electron) before 20 keV from the anode to the cathode??
 
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You would need to have log scale rather than linear scale on the vertical axis
 
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malawi_glenn said:
You would need to have log scale rather than linear scale on the vertical axis
So the graph representation is false there.
 
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cemtu said:
So the graph representation is false there.
False?
 
Those graphs need to be read "from right to left" if you wanna compare with the graph in the OP
 
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cemtu said:
why does it seem false without a log scale(the relative photon output number is zero in my OP until about 20 keV)?
You must be joking right?
 
  • #10
You are still not addressing the question. Many overviews of bremsstrahlung unfortunately do not.
This:
http://www.sprawls.org/ppmi2/XRAYPRO/
and a few others give the reason, though:
If no filtration is present where the spectrum is essentially a triangle, the amount of radiation produced is approximately proportional to the KV squared.
Apparently around 20 keV is where the absorption of tungsten increases rapidly.
 
  • #11
malawi_glenn said:
You must be joking right?
No, I am geniune.
 
  • #12
snorkack said:
You are still not addressing the question. Many overviews of bremsstrahlung unfortunately do not.
This:
http://www.sprawls.org/ppmi2/XRAYPRO/
and a few others give the reason, though:

Apparently around 20 keV is where the absorption of tungsten increases rapidly.
yeah, but below 20 it seems that we have 0 relative photon output number I still don't get it.
 
  • #13
cemtu said:
No, I am geniune.
All graphs stould be in log scale in order to be true?
 
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  • #14
malawi_glenn said:
All graphs stould be in log scale in order to be true?
what? I mean why is that?
 
  • #15
cemtu said:
what? I mean why is that?
How else are we gonna compare 5 to 50000? In a linear scale, 5 would look like zero :(
 
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  • #16
malawi_glenn said:
How else are we gonna compare 5 to 50000? In a linear scale, 5 would look like zero :(
oh, thats it? I thought there is somehow more than that. Thank you!
 
  • #17
cemtu said:
oh, thats it? I thought there is somehow more than that. Thank you!
Even 100 would be within the thickness of the line representing the horizontal axis.

Why is ##e^{-x} = 0## for ##x>4##? I mean, look at the graph:
1686566362910.png
 
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  • #18
Soft X-rays are re-absorbed before they exit the X-ray tube. You would need a thin window of low-Z material (for example, beryllium) in order to allow the soft X-rays to come out.
 
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