Optimization of transmission target x-ray tubes for imaging applications using Monte Carlo-based methods

Luis M. N. Tavora; Edward J. Morton; Walter B. Gilboy

doi:10.1117/12.363703

15 September 1999 Optimization of transmission target x-ray tubes for imaging applications using Monte Carlo-based methods

Luis M. N. Tavora, Edward J. Morton, Walter B. Gilboy

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3771, Radiation Sources and Radiation Interactions; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.363703
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1999, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

A low energy electron expansion of the EGS4 code system (briefly called EGS4/GOS) has been used in the simulation of X-ray tubes operating at diagnostic energies. In this new code, electron-atom inelastic collisions take into account atomic binding effects, and the emission of K-fluorescence radiation is simulated fully. Improved models for the generation of bremsstrahlung radiation in condensed media have also been developed. Benchmarks against experimental data show that the new code simulates realistically the production of bremsstrahlung and fluorescence radiation in X-ray tubes, with an accuracy of the order of 10% for the K_(alpha ) line. The EGS4/GOS code has been used in studies aimed at understanding the physics that constrains transmission target X-ray tubes. In a first set of studies, the tube's operational characteristics (namely the efficiency and the ratio of fluorescence to bremsstrahlung radiation in the measured spectrum) have been evaluated. It is shown that tubes with thinner targets exhibit higher fluorescent-to-bremsstrahlung ratios (F/B), but this gain is paid for in terms of a loss in efficiency. Further results indicate that increased tube voltages benefit both the tube efficiency and F/B. The choice of substrate materials for thin target applications is also discussed. It is shown that low Z materials, where the probability for generating bremsstrahlung radiation is low, may represent feasible alternatives. However, these materials also turn out to be more transparent to low energy radiation, and this may reduce the observed fluorescence-to- bremsstrahlung ratios. The effectiveness of different filter materials to be used in the development of 'quasi- monochromatic' X-ray tubes is also discussed.

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Luis M. N. Tavora, Edward J. Morton, and Walter B. Gilboy "Optimization of transmission target x-ray tubes for imaging applications using Monte Carlo-based methods", Proc. SPIE 3771, Radiation Sources and Radiation Interactions, (15 September 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.363703

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