X-Ray Tube

The x-ray tube consists of four main parts, the cathode, the anode, the envelope and the housing. The cathode is the negatively charged
side of the tube, the anode is the positively charged side. The glass envelope is the envelope that holds the cathode and anode and also has its
own cooling properties. The tube housing contains the x-ray tube, it protects the tube from being damaged.

The cathode assembly consists of the filament, the focusing cup and wiring coming into and out of the tube.

1) Filament this piece of the cathode is a tungsten wire within the focusing cup. It is designed to create resistance to the flow
of electrons, producing heat, and allowing the electrons to build around the filament. Once the exposure is made the electrons are
released and hit the anode target.

2) Focusing cup the focusing cups main function is to focus the electrons into a straight path towards the anode. It also houses
the filament wires. It is a small depression made of nickel, it has a slight negative charge which simultaneously repels the negative
charge of the electrons, directing them in a small area, and into a straight path when they are released.

3) Filament circuit and high voltage circuit this portion of the cathode applies current to the cathode.

The anode assembly consists of the anode itself, the stator and the rotor.

4) Anode anodes can be either stationary or rotating, rotating anodes are typically used in higher voltage machines because
they allow for a larger target and they need to be able to cool faster. When referring to anodes I will refer to a rotating anode as they are
what are used in diagnostic x-ray. Anodes consist of three metals, tungsten-rhenium alloy, graphite and molybdenum. The reason they
consist of more than one metal is because each metal has different properties that aid in efficiency of the anode. For example, tungsten
has a high melting point that allows the tube to reach 1,000-2,000C.

5) Stator located outside of the vacuum, the stator is comprised of electromagnets that allow the rotor to turn. These
electromagnets are located outside of the vacuum because the voltage of the exposure would damage them, even though they are
located outside of it the power of the magnet still allows it to spin.

6) Rotor Inside the envelope and the stator a copper rotor attaches to the anode by a molybdenum shaft (7). The rotor has ball
bearings (8) that allow the rotor to stay lubricated, they are connected to the shaft. It is important that the rotor is slowed quickly after
exposure to avoid damage to the envelope.

7) Molybdenum shaft this shaft allows the anode to be held in place, it is used to produce minimal heat in the anode side of
the tube, allowing longer life to the bearings.
 8) Ball bearings These allow the tube to stay lubricated because of its silver coating. They rotate in the rotor allowing the rotor
to not develop too much heat, and to maintain balance, keeping the tube focal track centered.

9) Envelope The envelope is the covering that surrounds the inner pieces of the tube, the anode and the cathode. In the past it
has been made of glass, more and more often they are made of metal now, with a window for the photons to be released through.

10) Housing The housing is where the tube in total is located. This is an essential piece of the x-ray tube, not only does it
physically protect the tube it reduces scatter, controls leakage, isolates high voltage and cools the tube, (Adler, 2013). The housing has
lead lining that is designed to absorb any photons that are unwanted.

11) Electron beam the electron beam are the electrons that are moving from the cathode to the anode.

12) X-ray beam The x-ray beam are the photons that exit the tube to go to the patient.