ABSTRACT
X-rays are produced by electrons being decelerated from an initial high speed by collisions with a target material. Electrons may be produced by thermo
ionic emission and given a high velocity by the application of an electric field. When an electron qe collides with a target material, it is rapidly decelerated and a photon is emitted. The wavelengths of the photons are mainly in the x-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The most rapid decelerations result in the shortest wavelength photons. For other collisions, the electron may lose energy via the emission of photons of longer
wavelength, and may also lose energy to heat by increasing the vibrational internal energy of the target. The result is a continuous spectrum of photon energies with a minimum wavelength dependent upon the kinetic energy of the electrons.
