Today X-rays find a use in many fields of applications, e.g. all kinds of research, medical imaging and therapy, industrial radiography etc. X-rays can either originate from radioactive isotopes or be generated by different kinds of devices. Each type of source has got its advantages and disadvantages:

 

Source Intensity Size of the source Light directed? Light polarized? Intensity modulation?
Radioactive isotopes low small no no no
Stars low large but distant yes (where observed) partly sometimes
X-ray tubes low table top no no no

Synchrotrons

very high large: own building yes yes periodic pulses
Plasma sources high table top no no pulses

 

These are the most common X-ray sources. There are some more like e.g. natural deposits of radioisotopes or scientific curiosities as the "sticky tape X-rays" where pulsed, low intensity X-rays origin from triboluminescence when common office sticky tape is peeled of a surface under partial vacuum.

The intensities achieved with technical X-ray sources have increased dramatically since W. C. Röntgen built his first X-ray tube. With the invention of synchrotrons and free electron lasers, that will be used in a few years, the peak brilliance of X-ray sources has increased by the incredible factor of about 1026 since 1896 (fig. 1). The technical progress is characterized by continuous improvements and great leaps due to the introduction of new basic principles.

 

Fig. 1: Increasing peak brilliance of technical X-ray sources over the decades1

 

1 data analogue to http://photon-science.desy.de

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.