What other type of x-rays, besides bremsstrahlung x-ray, are produced in the target?

Prepare for the Medical Dosimetry Certification Test with comprehensive flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Ensure your success by studying key topics covered in the exam!

Characteristic x-rays are produced when high-energy electrons from the electron beam collide with the target material (typically tungsten) in an x-ray tube. When these high-energy electrons knock out inner shell electrons from the atoms of the target material, the atom becomes ionized. This vacancy is then filled by an electron from a higher energy level, which emits energy in the form of x-rays. The emitted x-rays have specific energies that correspond to the differences in energy levels within the target material, hence the term "characteristic."

This type of x-ray production is distinct from bremsstrahlung radiation, which occurs due to the deceleration of electrons as they pass near the nucleus of the target material, resulting in a continuous spectrum of x-ray energies. Characteristic x-rays produce distinct peaks in energy at specific values that are characteristic of the target material used, leading to a more predictable outcome in the x-ray spectrum.

In contrast, fluorescent x-rays, thermal x-rays, and photoelectric x-rays do not arise directly from the high-energy interactions within the target material in the way characteristic x-rays do. Fluorescent x-rays typically relate to the emission of x-rays when atoms are excited by radiation but are not a primary product in the context of x-ray

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