X-ray Beam Production 2

Question 1

What is the energy level of a photon produced by a M–>K shell transformation?

Answer 1

Roughly 69.5 kEV. This transformation is known as K-beta

Question 2

What is the energy level of a photon produced by a L–>K shell transformation?

Answer 2

Roughly 60 kEV. This is a K-alpha transformation?

Question 3

In an intensity-photon energy graph, what are the two peaks seen?

Answer 3

These are K-alpha and beta characteristic radiation production. They occur at energies 60 and 69.5kV respectively.

Question 4

What is the smooth curve seen on an intensity-photon energy graph?

Answer 4

This represents the x-ray photons generated via bremsstrahlung radiation.

Question 5

What is the maximum energy of photon dictated by?

Answer 5

The max. photon energy is the same as the tube current. No photon can have more energy than that.

Question 6

Why is there a lack of photons with low and high energy in an intensity-photon energy graph?

Answer 6

These photons are absorbed by the tissue and filters (within the tube). These regions are known as the low/high energy cut-offs.

Question 7

Can you see M–>L or N–>M transition characteristic radiation on an intensity-photon energy graph?

Answer 7

No, because the photons produced via these transitions are so low-energy that they are absorbed by filters/the anode/tissue.

Question 8

What happens to an intensity-photon energy graph if you decrease the tube current?

Answer 8

• Smaller area under the curve. Intensity is proportional to kEV squared, decrease in kEV means an exponential decrease in intensity.
• The line would tail-off at a lower photon energy (i.e. the tube current)
• Characteristic lines would move towards the left, but stay above their respective energy levels (60 and 69.5 kEV)

Question 9

What happens to an intensity-photon energy graph if you increase the tube current?

Answer 9

• Larger area under the curve (I is proportional to kEV squared)
• Line tails off at new tube current/kEV max.
• Characteristic lines

Question 10

What does ‘intensity’ refer to?

Answer 10

Number of x-ray photons in the primary beam per unity time

Question 11

What does ‘beam quality’ refer to?

Answer 11

Penetrating power of the beam and is dependent on kV

Question 12

What does ‘beam quantity’ refer to?

Answer 12

Number of photons in the x-ray beam. It is dependent on mA (tube current) and kV (potential difference across tube)

Question 13

Which x-ray photon interaction is proportional to atomic number cubed (Z3)?

Answer 13

Photoelectric absorption

This makes it useful for imaging regions of similar atomic densities (low subject contrast), by highlighting the differences in regions by a factor of cubed.

Question 14

Which photon interaction is inversely proportional to energy cubed (1/E3)?

Answer 14

Photoelectric absorption. I.e. increasing energy decreases the occurance of PEA by a factor of 3.

Question 15

How does photoelectric absorption affect absorbed dose?

Answer 15

Ejection of an electron (ionisation) of atoms in the body lead to the release of small amount of characteristic radiation. Atoms in the body are small so the energy of these photons is low and are absorbed by the tissues.

Question 16

Which interaction/s involve the ejection of an orbital electron?

Answer 16

PEA and sometimes compton scatter

Question 17

Which interaction involves no energy transfer?

Answer 17

Elastic scattering. Photon direction is influenced after passing by orbital electron. Happens in low energy photons.

Question 18

Which photon interaction is proportional to electron density/atomic number (Z)?

Answer 18

Compton scatter. More electrons = greater chance of an interaction

Question 19

Which photon interaction is inversely proportional to energy (1/E)?

Answer 19

Compton scatter. Greater energy means photons less likely to have its path altered by the (relatively) lower energy orbital electron

Question 20

What aspect of the target anode affects the intensity of the primary beam intensity?

Answer 20

Intensity is directly proportional to the atomic number (Z) of the target. More electrons = greater number of interactions (Brem. and characteristic) leading to more high energy photons leaving the tube.