X-ray tube | electronics | Britannica

X-ray tube, also called Roentgen tube, evacuated electron tube that produces X rays by accelerating electrons to a high velocity with a high-voltage field ... X-raytube Sections Article Introduction FastFacts Facts&RelatedContent AdditionalInfo MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Technology Engineering MechanicalEngineering X-raytube electronics Alternatetitles:Roentgentube Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/technology/X-ray-tube More GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites Hyperphysics-X-rayTube h2g2-X-RayTube By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica | ViewEditHistory KeyPeople: WilliamD.Coolidge ...(Showmore) RelatedTopics: electrontube Duane–Huntlaw ...(Showmore) Seeallrelatedcontent→ X-raytube,alsocalledRoentgentube,evacuatedelectrontubethatproducesXraysbyacceleratingelectronstoahighvelocitywithahigh-voltagefieldandcausingthemtocollidewithatarget,theanodeplate.Thetubeconsistsofasourceofelectrons,thecathode,whichisusuallyaheatedfilament,andathermallyruggedanode,usuallyoftungsten,whichisenclosedinanevacuatedglassenvelope.Thevoltageappliedtoacceleratetheelectronsisintherangeof30to100kilovolts.TheX-raytubefunctionsontheprinciplethatXraysareproducedwhereverelectronsmovingatveryhighspeedsstrikematterofanykind.Onlyabout1percentoftheelectronenergyisconvertedtoXrays.BecauseXrayscanpenetratesolidsubstancestovaryingdegrees,theyareappliedinmedicineanddentistry,intheexplorationofthestructureofcrystallinematerials,andinresearch.TheX-raytubedesignthatbecametheprototypeforsubsequentdeviceswasinventedbytheAmericanengineerWilliamD.Coolidgein1913.