Bremsstrahlung - DOE-HDBK-1109-97

DOE-HDBK-1109-97

Radiological Safety Training for Radiation-Producing (X-Ray) Devices

Instructor's Guide

Lesson Plan

Instructor's Notes

Most X-ray devices emit electrons from a cathode,

accelerate them with a voltage, and allow them to hit an

anode, which emits X-ray photons.

Bremsstrahlung.

When electrons hit the anode, they decelerate or

Discuss types of radiation

brake emitting bremsstrahlung (meaning braking

produced.

radiation in German). Bremsstrahlung is produced

most effectively when small charged particles

interact with large atoms such as when electrons hit

a tungsten anode. However, bremsstrahlung can be

produced with any charged particles and any target.

For example, at research laboratories,

bremsstrahlung has been produced by accelerating

protons and allowing them to hit hydrogen.

ii. Characteristic X-Rays.

When electrons change from one atomic orbit to

another, characteristic X-rays are produced. The

individual photon energies are characteristic of the

type of atom and can be used to identify very small

quantities of a particular element. For this reason,

they are important in analytical X-ray applications

at research laboratories.