7.

2 X-Ray Tubes | 119

relative intensity i

1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
-2

-1

radial coordinate r (cm)

Fig. 7.1. Relative intensity on the screen, dependent on radial coordinate .

As absorption in the paths outside of the sphere should be neglected, we can set
0 = 0. Therefore,
() =

()
= = exp (22 2 ) .
max

A beam on the -axis will have the minimum relative intensity, as here, beam path
is = 2

min () = min = 0.45.

max

7.2 X-Ray Tubes

An X-ray tube is comprised of an evacuated bulb in which are located a cathode as a
thermal source of electrons, and an anode made of tungsten. During operation, there
is a potential difference between cathode and anode of 100 kV, and an electric current
of 100 mA is flowing. In this system, 1% of the electric power is used for the creation of
X-rays. How many electrons strike the anode each second? What is the power emitted
as X-ray radiation? How long can the X-ray tube work without the anode fusing? How
can this amount of time be lengthened?
[mass of the anode = 74 g; tungsten: specific heat = 0.33 J/kg K; melting tempera
ture = 3,000 K]
For the electric charge we have || = with as the number of electrons that strike
the anode. Therefore,

||
=
=
|| =