MED PHYS 1E03

Diagnos(c Medical Imaging

using X-Rays.

X-Ray Produc(on
X-Ray Produc(on
MED PHYS 1E03

Introduc(on
kVp X-ray source
mAs

FFD Correct differential

absorption of x-rays

Subject density
(contrast?)

Recording device (film,

flat panel digital
detector)
The X-Ray Tube
MED PHYS 1E03
Opera(on of the x-ray tube
MED PHYS 1E03

X-rays are produced when electrons are accelerated from the

cathode to the anode.

+
Filament -
Tungsten target
Opera(on of the x-ray tube
MED PHYS 1E03

The tube voltage is the poten(al dierence between the

cathode and the anode. The higher this is the faster the
electrons will be accelerated.
Poten(al Dierence (kV)

+
Filament -

Tungsten target
Opera(on of the x-ray tube
MED PHYS 1E03

The lament current is the current applied to the lament.

The higher this current the more electrons will boil o the
lament.
Poten(al Dierence (kV)

+
Filament -

Tungsten target
Opera(on of the x-ray tube
MED PHYS 1E03

The Tube Current is the ow of electrons from the cathode to the anode (mA).

The interac(ons of the electrons in the target lead to X-Rays being produced

We need to ask how many X-rays are produced as a func(on of kV and mA

- Poten(al Dierence (kV) +

Filament

Tungsten target

No. of X-Rays produced mA

No. of X-Rays produced (kV)2
Terminology
MED PHYS 1E03

The electron volt eV

1 volt
- +

Tungsten target

Filament

KE gained by one electron when accelerated

through a poten(al of 1 volt is 1 eV
Terminology
MED PHYS 1E03

Intensity

The intensity of an x-ray beam is dened as the energy

owing through unit area in unit 8me

J/m2/s
Terminology
MED PHYS 1E03

Intensity : The inverse square law.

The inverse square law states that the intensity of

the radia(on from a source varies inversely as the
square of the distance from the source

1
Intensity (I ) 2
d
Focal Spot
MED PHYS 1E03

Ideally we need a small focal spot size for good image quality,
but a large focal spot size to spread the heat energy out.
Area over which heat is
deposited is the larger
real area.
The area of the real focus
is about three (mes that
of the apparent focus.
The anode face angle is
between 15 and 20
degrees.
Focal Spot
MED PHYS 1E03

Why do we need a small focal spot for imaging?

Large focal spot

Large
apparent
focal spot
size

Edges are spread

over large area called
the penumbra.

Image recorder (lm or digital)

Focal Spot
MED PHYS 1E03

Small focal spot

Small
apparent
focal spot
size

Edges are spread over

smaller penumbra.

Image recorder (lm or digital)

X-Ray Energy Spectrum
MED PHYS 1E03

Typical energy spectrum from a MEDICAL x-ray tube (90 kV)

140000

120000

100000

80000
Counts

60000

40000

20000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Energy keV
X-Ray Energy Spectrum
MED PHYS 1E03

Interac(on 1. Most commonly occurring leading to heat build up in

the target

Charged par(cle

Electrons

Nucleus
X-Ray Energy Spectrum
MED PHYS 1E03

Interac(on 1. Most commonly occurring leading to heat build up in

the target

Charged par(cle

Electrons

Nucleus
Bremsstrahlung Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

Energy = ?
What is the maximum
energy?

Angle of deec(on

Tungsten atom
Bremsstrahlung Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

90keV

85keV

+
5keV
Bremsstrahlung Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

90keV

+ 30keV

60keV
Bremsstrahlung Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

60keV

90keV

30keV
Bremsstrahlung Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

So we can get x-rays with energy in the

range from approximately 0 keV up to 90keV
the ini(al energy of the incoming
electron (in this case 90 keV)

90keV

0keV
+
Bremsstrahlung Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

What is the distribu(on of the x-rays emiged?

Consider electrons of energy E1 incident on a thin lm
target
(By thin lm we assume each electron only interacts once
before passing through)
Bremsstrahlung Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

Consider electrons of energy E1 incident on a thin lm target

(By thin lm we assume each electron only interacts once before passing through)

Energy E1
Bremsstrahlung Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

Consider electrons of energy E1 incident on a thin lm target

(By thin lm we assume each electron only interacts once before passing through)

The intensity of the radia(on emiged in any energy interval from 0 to E1 is constant.

I

E
E1

Now consider a beam of electrons with energy E2 < E1

E
E2
Bremsstrahlung Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03
We can consider a thick target as the superposi(on of a number of thin targets. Hence electrons of
ini(al energy E1 ajer passing through a thin layer of the target will have a reduced energy which
will go on to the second thin layer producing the corresponding spectrum with it. Ajer passing
through the second thin layer they will have a further reduc(on in energy . The total spectrum for
the thick target can therefore be superposi(on of all the thin layer target spectra.
I
I(E) = K.Z.(Emax-E).
K is a constant
Z the atomic number of target material

Emax is the energy of the electrons

hilng the target and is also the
maximum emiged photon energy (in
this case = E1)

E
E1
Bremsstrahlung Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03
The spectrum emerging from the x-ray tube is modied due to absorp(on of
most of the very low energy x-rays hence we end up with a spectrum looking
more like the one below.
I These x-rays absorbed before they get out of the x-ray
tube

These Bremstrallung x-rays emerge from

the x-ray tube

E
E1
X-Ray Energy Spectrum
MED PHYS 1E03

Typical energy spectrum from a MEDICAL x-ray tube (90 kV)

140000

120000

100000

80000
Counts

60000

40000

20000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Energy keV
Characteris(c Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

Interac(on 3 : Characteris(c radia(on

Consider the binding energies for a tungsten atom (Z=74)

Shell W (Z=74)

K 69.5 keV

LI 12.098 keV

LII 11.541 keV

LIII 10.204 keV

MI 2.82 keV

MII 2.575 keV

MIII 2.281 keV

MIV 1.871 keV

MV 1.809 keV
Characteris(c Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

Provided that an electron

hilng the target has at least
69.525keV, it can eject a K
shell electron from a target
tungsten atom.

+74

K
LI
LII
LIII

MI
MII
MIII
MIV
MV
Characteris(c Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

If ejected there is a hole or

vacancy in the K shell that
could be lled from an
electron in the L shell.

+74

K
LI
LII
LIII

MI
MII
MIII
MIV
MV
Characteris(c Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

Resul(ng in a photon being

emiged of energy equal to the
dierence in the binding
energies of the two shells.

Typically the electron comes

from the LIII subshell hence
the photon has energy
+74
69.525 10.204 = 59.321
keV. This x-ray is know as K
the K1 line. The K2 line LI
(57.984keV) results if the LII
LIII
transi(on is from the LII
subshell. MI
MII
Characterisitc K x-ray MIII
MIV
MV
 Characteris(c Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

If the vacancy is lled by an electron

from the M shell we get a photon
know as a K x-ray.

+74

K
LI
LII
LIII

MI
Characterisitc K x-ray MII
MIII
MIV
MV
Characteris(c Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

There will of course be vacancies in the L shell either from direct

interac(on or ajer lling the K shell

Shell W (Z=74)

K 69.5 keV

LI 12.098 keV

LII 11.541 keV

LIII 10.204 keV

MI 2.82 keV

MII 2.575 keV

MIII 2.281 keV

MIV 1.871 keV

MV 1.809 keV
Characteris(c Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

L characteris(c lines 140000

120000
2500000 100000
80000
60000
40000
2000000 20000
0
50 60 70 80
I
1500000
Counts

1000000 E1 E

500000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Energy keV
Characteris(c Radia(on
MED PHYS 1E03

Typical energy spectrum from a MEDICAL x-ray tube (90 kV)

2500000
140000
2000000

120000

Counts
1500000

1000000
100000

500000

80000
0
Counts

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Energy keV
60000

40000

20000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Energy keV
Beam Hardening
MED PHYS 1E03

120000 0.5mm Al

100000

80000
Counts

60000

40000

20000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Energy keV
Beam Hardening
MED PHYS 1E03

120000 1.0mm Al

100000

80000
Counts

60000

40000

20000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Energy keV
Beam Hardening
MED PHYS 1E03

120000 1.5mm Al

100000

80000
Counts

60000

40000

20000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Energy keV
Beam Hardening
MED PHYS 1E03
140000
120000
100000

Counts
120000 2.5mm Al 80000
60000
40000
100000 20000
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
80000 Energy keV
Counts

60000

40000

20000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Energy keV
Energy Spectra
MED PHYS 1E03

35000
60 kV

30000

25000

20000
Counts

15000

10000

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Energy
Energy Spectra
MED PHYS 1E03

40000

70 kV
35000

30000

25000
Counts

20000

15000

10000

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Energy
Energy Spectra
MED PHYS 1E03

60000

80kV
50000

40000
Counts

30000

20000

10000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Energy
Energy Spectra
MED PHYS 1E03

140000

90kV
120000

100000

80000
Counts

60000

40000

20000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Energy
Energy Spectra
MED PHYS 1E03

250000

100kV

200000

150000
Counts

100000

50000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110
Energy
Energy Spectra
MED PHYS 1E03

300000

110kV
250000

200000
Counts

150000

100000

50000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Energy
Energy Spectra
MED PHYS 1E03

400000

120kV
350000

300000

250000
Counts

200000

150000

100000

50000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Energy