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DOE-HDBK-1109-97
Radiological Safety Training for Radiation-Producing (X-Ray) Devices
Instructor=s Guide
Lesson Plan
Instructor=s Notes
ii. X-Rays and Gamma Rays.
Objective 2
X-rays and gamma rays both ionize atoms. The
energy required for ionization varies with material
(e.g., 34 eV in air, 25 eV in tissue) but is generally
in the range of several eV. A 100 keV X-ray can
potentially create thousands of ions.
As discussed in Module 101, the distinction
between X-rays and gamma rays is their origin, or
method of production. Gamma rays originate from
within the nucleus; X-rays originate from atomic
electrons and from free electrons decelerating in the
vicinity of atoms (i.e., bremsstrahlung).
In addition, gamma photons often have more
energy than X-ray photons. For example,
diagnostic X-rays are about 40 keV, whereas
gammas from cobalt-60 are over 1 MeV. However,
there are many exceptions. For example, gammas
from technicium-99m are 140 keV, and the energy
of X-rays from a high-energy radiographic machine
may be as high as 10 MeV.
C.
X-RAY PRODUCTION
Radiation-producing devices produce X-rays by
accelerating electrons through an electrical voltage
potential and stopping them in a target. Many devices
that use a high voltage and a source of electrons
produce X-rays as an unwanted byproduct of device
operation. These are called incidental X-rays.
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