Radiographic Physics - Video Lesson

To the surprise of some PAs and nurse practitioners, CT scans do in fact use X rays. We don't use magnets or death rays, but we definitely use X rays. And so as a CT technologist, it is important to understand radiographic physics in the context of CT. As it turns out, a CT ray tube is actually very similar to a traditional X-ray tube. As with traditional radiography, X rays require three specific conditions to be produced. A source of electrons, a means of rapidly accelerating those electrons or energizing them And then finally, a means of rapidly decelerating those electrons. And through the release of that energy, X rays are produced. All three conditions of X-ray production are taking place in a controlled fashion inside of the X-ray tube. The cathode filament serves as the source of electrons. The rotating anode is the target of the electron stream, and the accelerated electrons will collide