Energy Conversion and Generation of X-rays

When an electron traveling at high speed strikes a target atom, the electron will either slow down or be put to a halt by the gravitational forces of the target atom (Figure 1). Because of the law of conservation of energy, the kinetic energy of the incoming electron cannot be lost. Instead, it must either be absorbed by the atom or converted to another form of energy. About 99% of this kinetic energy will convert into heat, and the remaining will become a radiating energy known as an x-ray.^2,3,4,5,6

Figure 1. An electron traveling at high speed and abruptly slowed down or stopped. The kinetic energy will convert into heat and radiation.

Figure 1. An electron traveling at high speed and abruptly slowed down or stopped. The kinetic energy will convert into heat and radiation.

When the electron is completely stopped due to the gravitational forces of the atom, the x-ray energy will equate to the total kinetic energy of the electron. However, the gravitational forces exerted by the atom will mostly only slow down the electrons situationally based on their proximity to the nucleus. The closer the high-speed electron is to the nucleus, the higher the x-ray energies will be; this will result in a continuous spectrum of x-rays varying from very low energies to very high energies (Figure 2).⁷

Figure 2. Theoretical x-ray spectrum before filtration. There are more low energy photons than high energy photons.

Figure 2. Theoretical x-ray spectrum before filtration. There are more low energy photons than high energy photons.