A fast quantitative model for the energy spectra of radiation emitted by X-ray tubes is described, handling thin as well as thick plane targets of arbitrary materials. The developed model is based on fundamental interaction cross sections, describing electron and photon transport via numerical integration of discretized distributions. While the focus lies on bremsstrahlung production, modeling of characteristic radiation is fully integrated. The model does not include any free parameters. The validity of the model is shown through comparison with measurements and Monte Carlo simulations for several combinations of target material and acceleration potential between 30 kV and 450 kV.
Radiography benchmark 2014
(2015)
The purpose of the 2014 WFNDEC RT benchmark study was to compare predictions of various models of radiographic techniques, in particular those that predict the contribution of scattered radiation. All calculations were carried out for homogenous materials and a mono-energetic X-ray point source in the energy range between 100 keV and 10 MeV. The calculations were to include the best physics approach available considering electron binding effects. Secondary effects like X-ray fluorescence and bremsstrahlung production were to be taken into account if possible. The problem to be considered had two parts. Part I examined the spectrum and the spatial distribution of radiation behind a single iron plate. Part II considered two equally sized plates, made of iron and aluminum respectively, only evaluating the spatial distribution. Here we present the results of above benchmark study, comparing them to MCNP as the assumed reference model. The possible origins of the observed deviations are discussed.
Correctly modeling the continuous photon spectrum of X-ray tubes requires detailed knowledge of the probability distribution of electron properties at the time of X-ray photon creation, in particular electron energy, depth within the target, and direction of movement. Semi-analytical X-ray spectrum models frequently assume a very simplified or even uniform distribution of electron direction. In the case of thick targets and small deviations from normal incidence this is a useful approximation. For thin targets or large deviations from normal incidence the correct distribution of electron directions becomes more important. As calculation speed is an important aspect of semi-analytical models compared to Monte Carlo simulations, fast evaluation of the distribution of electron properties is highly desirable. The approach presented here numerically evaluates the evolution of a discrete probability distribution of electron properties due to single electron scatter interactions within a plane target. This allows capturing the important aspects of the electron distribution while achieving runtimes of a few seconds up to a minute on a standard office PC.
A model is discussed which describes the generation of X-rays in conventional tubes using tabulated bremsstrahlung energy spectra depending on three variables: the target atomic number, the incident electron kinetic energy, and the fraction of energy radiated. Additionally a parameter-free description of the characteristic radiation is included. The constructed model includes technical tube parameters like kilovoltage, target material, and angles of electron incidence and photon emission to also account for self-absorption in the target, as well as radiographic parameters like filtering. In order to verify model results, detector response is also considered. The validity of the proposed model is shown by measurements. Future work includes the extension of the model to transmission targets. This research was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology under contract MNPQ transfer II D 5-30/06.