Definition of the word x ray

This article is about the nature, production, and uses of the radiation. For the method of imaging, see Radiography. For the medical specialty, see Radiology. For other uses, see X-ray (disambiguation). Not to be confused with X-wave or X-band.

An X-ray, or, much less commonly, X-radiation, is a penetrating form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Most X-rays have a wavelength ranging from 10 picometers to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz (3×10¹⁶ Hz to 3×10¹⁹ Hz) and energies in the range 145 eV to 124 keV. X-ray wavelengths are shorter than those of UV rays and typically longer than those of gamma rays. In many languages, X-radiation is referred to as Röntgen radiation, after the German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, who discovered it on November 8, 1895.^[1] He named it X-radiation to signify an unknown type of radiation.^[2] Spellings of X-ray(s) in English include the variants x-ray(s), xray(s), and X ray(s).^[3]

X-rays are also used in ways such as checking for broken bones, detecting certain kinds of diseases, «identification of some metals», and ascertaining the locations of weak points in steel.^[4]

History[edit]

Pre-Röntgen observations and research[edit]

Before their discovery in 1895, X-rays were just a type of unidentified radiation emanating from experimental discharge tubes. They were noticed by scientists investigating cathode rays produced by such tubes, which are energetic electron beams that were first observed in 1869. Many of the early Crookes tubes (invented around 1875) undoubtedly radiated X-rays, because early researchers noticed effects that were attributable to them, as detailed below. Crookes tubes created free electrons by ionization of the residual air in the tube by a high DC voltage of anywhere between a few kilovolts and 100 kV. This voltage accelerated the electrons coming from the cathode to a high enough velocity that they created X-rays when they struck the anode or the glass wall of the tube.^[5]

The earliest experimenter thought to have (unknowingly) produced X-rays was William Morgan. In 1785, he presented a paper to the Royal Society of London describing the effects of passing electrical currents through a partially evacuated glass tube, producing a glow created by X-rays.^[6][7] This work was further explored by Humphry Davy and his assistant Michael Faraday.

When Stanford University physics professor Fernando Sanford created his «electric photography», he also unknowingly generated and detected X-rays. From 1886 to 1888, he had studied in the Hermann von Helmholtz laboratory in Berlin, where he became familiar with the cathode rays generated in vacuum tubes when a voltage was applied across separate electrodes, as previously studied by Heinrich Hertz and Philipp Lenard. His letter of January 6, 1893 (describing his discovery as «electric photography») to the Physical Review was duly published and an article entitled Without Lens or Light, Photographs Taken With Plate and Object in Darkness appeared in the San Francisco Examiner.^[8]

Starting in 1888, Philipp Lenard conducted experiments to see whether cathode rays could pass out of the Crookes tube into the air. He built a Crookes tube with a «window» at the end made of thin aluminium, facing the cathode so the cathode rays would strike it (later called a «Lenard tube»). He found that something came through, that would expose photographic plates and cause fluorescence. He measured the penetrating power of these rays through various materials. It has been suggested that at least some of these «Lenard rays» were actually X-rays.^[9]

In 1889, Ukrainian-born Ivan Puluj, a lecturer in experimental physics at the Prague Polytechnic who since 1877 had been constructing various designs of gas-filled tubes to investigate their properties, published a paper on how sealed photographic plates became dark when exposed to the emanations from the tubes.^[10]

Helmholtz formulated mathematical equations for X-rays. He postulated a dispersion theory before Röntgen made his discovery and announcement. He based it on the electromagnetic theory of light.^{[11][full citation needed]} However, he did not work with actual X-rays.

In 1894, Nikola Tesla noticed damaged film in his lab that seemed to be associated with Crookes tube experiments and began investigating this invisible, radiant energy.^[12][13] After Röntgen identified the X-ray, Tesla began making X-ray images of his own using high voltages and tubes of his own design,^[14] as well as Crookes tubes.

Discovery by Röntgen[edit]

On November 8, 1895, German physics professor Wilhelm Röntgen stumbled on X-rays while experimenting with Lenard tubes and Crookes tubes and began studying them. He wrote an initial report «On a new kind of ray: A preliminary communication» and on December 28, 1895, submitted it to Würzburg’s Physical-Medical Society journal.^[15] This was the first paper written on X-rays. Röntgen referred to the radiation as «X», to indicate that it was an unknown type of radiation. Some early texts refer to them as Chi-rays having interpreted «X» as the uppercase Greek letter Chi, Χ.^[16][17][18] The name X-rays stuck, although (over Röntgen’s great objections) many of his colleagues suggested calling them Röntgen rays. They are still referred to as such in many languages, including German, Hungarian, Ukrainian, Danish, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Swedish, Finnish, Estonian, Slovenian, Turkish, Russian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Albanian, Japanese, Dutch, Georgian, Hebrew, and Norwegian. Röntgen received the first Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery.^[19]

There are conflicting accounts of his discovery because Röntgen had his lab notes burned after his death, but this is a likely reconstruction by his biographers:^[20][21] Röntgen was investigating cathode rays from a Crookes tube which he had wrapped in black cardboard so that the visible light from the tube would not interfere, using a fluorescent screen painted with barium platinocyanide. He noticed a faint green glow from the screen, about 1 meter (3.3 ft) away. Röntgen realized some invisible rays coming from the tube were passing through the cardboard to make the screen glow. He found they could also pass through books and papers on his desk. Röntgen threw himself into investigating these unknown rays systematically. Two months after his initial discovery, he published his paper.^[22]

Röntgen discovered their medical use when he made a picture of his wife’s hand on a photographic plate formed due to X-rays. The photograph of his wife’s hand was the first photograph of a human body part using X-rays. When she saw the picture, she said «I have seen my death.»^[25]

The discovery of X-rays generated significant interest. Röntgen’s biographer Otto Glasser estimated that, in 1896 alone, as many as 49 essays and 1044 articles about the new rays were published.^[26] This was probably a conservative estimate, if one considers that nearly every paper around the world extensively reported about the new discovery, with a magazine such as Science dedicating as many as 23 articles to it in that year alone.^[27] Sensationalist reactions to the new discovery included publications linking the new kind of rays to occult and paranormal theories, such as telepathy.^[28][29]

Advances in radiology[edit]

Röntgen immediately noticed X-rays could have medical applications. Along with his 28 December Physical-Medical Society submission, he sent a letter to physicians he knew around Europe (January 1, 1896).^[30] News (and the creation of «shadowgrams») spread rapidly with Scottish electrical engineer Alan Archibald Campbell-Swinton being the first after Röntgen to create an X-ray (of a hand). Through February, there were 46 experimenters taking up the technique in North America alone.^[30]

The first use of X-rays under clinical conditions was by John Hall-Edwards in Birmingham, England on 11 January 1896, when he radiographed a needle stuck in the hand of an associate. On February 14, 1896, Hall-Edwards was also the first to use X-rays in a surgical operation.^[31]

In early 1896, several weeks after Röntgen’s discovery, Ivan Romanovich Tarkhanov irradiated frogs and insects with X-rays, concluding that the rays «not only photograph, but also affect the living function».^[32] At around the same time, the zoological illustrator James Green began to use X-rays to examine fragile specimens. George Albert Boulenger first mentioned this work in a paper he delivered before the Zoological Society of London in May 1896. The book Sciagraphs of British Batrachians and Reptiles (sciagraph is an obsolete name for an X-ray photograph), by Green and James H. Gardiner, with a foreword by Boulenger, was published in 1897.^[33][34]

The first medical X-ray made in the United States was obtained using a discharge tube of Pului’s design. In January 1896, on reading of Röntgen’s discovery, Frank Austin of Dartmouth College tested all of the discharge tubes in the physics laboratory and found that only the Pului tube produced X-rays. This was a result of Pului’s inclusion of an oblique «target» of mica, used for holding samples of fluorescent material, within the tube. On 3 February 1896, Gilman Frost, professor of medicine at the college, and his brother Edwin Frost, professor of physics, exposed the wrist of Eddie McCarthy, whom Gilman had treated some weeks earlier for a fracture, to the X-rays and collected the resulting image of the broken bone on gelatin photographic plates obtained from Howard Langill, a local photographer also interested in Röntgen’s work.^[35]

Many experimenters, including Röntgen himself in his original experiments, came up with methods to view X-ray images «live» using some form of luminescent screen.^[30] Röntgen used a screen coated with barium platinocyanide. On February 5, 1896, live imaging devices were developed by both Italian scientist Enrico Salvioni (his «cryptoscope») and Professor McGie of Princeton University (his «Skiascope»), both using barium platinocyanide. American inventor Thomas Edison started research soon after Röntgen’s discovery and investigated materials’ ability to fluoresce when exposed to X-rays, finding that calcium tungstate was the most effective substance. In May 1896, he developed the first mass-produced live imaging device, his «Vitascope», later called the fluoroscope, which became the standard for medical X-ray examinations.^[30] Edison dropped X-ray research around 1903, before the death of Clarence Madison Dally, one of his glassblowers. Dally had a habit of testing X-ray tubes on his own hands, developing a cancer in them so tenacious that both arms were amputated in a futile attempt to save his life; in 1904, he became the first known death attributed to X-ray exposure.^[30] During the time the fluoroscope was being developed, Serbian American physicist Mihajlo Pupin, using a calcium tungstate screen developed by Edison, found that using a fluorescent screen decreased the exposure time it took to create an X-ray for medical imaging from an hour to a few minutes.^[36][30]

In 1901, U.S. President William McKinley was shot twice in an assassination attempt while attending the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. While one bullet only grazed his sternum, another had lodged somewhere deep inside his abdomen and could not be found. A worried McKinley aide sent word to inventor Thomas Edison to rush an X-ray machine to Buffalo to find the stray bullet. It arrived but was not used. While the shooting itself had not been lethal, gangrene had developed along the path of the bullet, and McKinley died of septic shock due to bacterial infection six days later.^[37]

Hazards discovered[edit]

With the widespread experimentation with X‑rays after their discovery in 1895 by scientists, physicians, and inventors came many stories of burns, hair loss, and worse in technical journals of the time. In February 1896, Professor John Daniel and Dr. William Lofland Dudley of Vanderbilt University reported hair loss after Dr. Dudley was X-rayed. A child who had been shot in the head was brought to the Vanderbilt laboratory in 1896. Before trying to find the bullet, an experiment was attempted, for which Dudley «with his characteristic devotion to science»^[38][39][40] volunteered. Daniel reported that 21 days after taking a picture of Dudley’s skull (with an exposure time of one hour), he noticed a bald spot 5 centimeters (2 in) in diameter on the part of his head nearest the X-ray tube: «A plate holder with the plates towards the side of the skull was fastened and a coin placed between the skull and the head. The tube was fastened at the other side at a distance of one-half inch [1.3 cm] from the hair.»^[41] Beyond burns, hair loss, and cancer, x-rays can be linked to infertility in males based on the amount of radiation used.

In August 1896, Dr. HD. Hawks, a graduate of Columbia College, suffered severe hand and chest burns from an X-ray demonstration. It was reported in Electrical Review and led to many other reports of problems associated with X-rays being sent in to the publication.^[42] Many experimenters including Elihu Thomson at Edison’s lab, William J. Morton, and Nikola Tesla also reported burns. Elihu Thomson deliberately exposed a finger to an X-ray tube over a period of time and suffered pain, swelling, and blistering.^[43] Other effects were sometimes blamed for the damage including ultraviolet rays and (according to Tesla) ozone.^[12] Many physicians claimed there were no effects from X-ray exposure at all.^[43] On August 3, 1905, in San Francisco, California, Elizabeth Fleischman, an American X-ray pioneer, died from complications as a result of her work with X-rays.^[44][45][46]

Hall-Edwards developed a cancer (then called X-ray dermatitis) sufficiently advanced by 1904 to cause him to write papers and give public addresses on the dangers of X-rays. His left arm had to be amputated at the elbow in 1908,^[47] and four fingers on his right arm soon thereafter, leaving only a thumb. He died of cancer in 1926. His left hand is kept at Birmingham University.

20th century and beyond[edit]

The many applications of X-rays immediately generated enormous interest. Workshops began making specialized versions of Crookes tubes for generating X-rays and these first-generation cold cathode or Crookes X-ray tubes were used until about 1920.

A typical early 20th century medical X-ray system consisted of a Ruhmkorff coil connected to a cold cathode Crookes X-ray tube. A spark gap was typically connected to the high voltage side in parallel to the tube and used for diagnostic purposes.^[48] The spark gap allowed detecting the polarity of the sparks, measuring voltage by the length of the sparks thus determining the «hardness» of the vacuum of the tube, and it provided a load in the event the X-ray tube was disconnected. To detect the hardness of the tube, the spark gap was initially opened to the widest setting. While the coil was operating, the operator reduced the gap until sparks began to appear. A tube in which the spark gap began to spark at around 6.4 centimeters (2.5 in) was considered soft (low vacuum) and suitable for thin body parts such as hands and arms. A 13-centimeter (5 in) spark indicated the tube was suitable for shoulders and knees. An 18-to-23-centimeter (7 to 9 in) spark would indicate a higher vacuum suitable for imaging the abdomen of larger individuals. Since the spark gap was connected in parallel to the tube, the spark gap had to be opened until the sparking ceased in order to operate the tube for imaging. Exposure time for photographic plates was around half a minute for a hand to a couple of minutes for a thorax. The plates may have a small addition of fluorescent salt to reduce exposure times.^[48]

Crookes tubes were unreliable. They had to contain a small quantity of gas (invariably air) as a current will not flow in such a tube if they are fully evacuated. However, as time passed, the X-rays caused the glass to absorb the gas, causing the tube to generate «harder» X-rays until it soon stopped operating. Larger and more frequently used tubes were provided with devices for restoring the air, known as «softeners». These often took the form of a small side tube that contained a small piece of mica, a mineral that traps relatively large quantities of air within its structure. A small electrical heater heated the mica, causing it to release a small amount of air, thus restoring the tube’s efficiency. However, the mica had a limited life, and the restoration process was difficult to control.

In 1904, John Ambrose Fleming invented the thermionic diode, the first kind of vacuum tube. This used a hot cathode that caused an electric current to flow in a vacuum. This idea was quickly applied to X-ray tubes, and hence heated-cathode X-ray tubes, called «Coolidge tubes», completely replaced the troublesome cold cathode tubes by about 1920.

In about 1906, the physicist Charles Barkla discovered that X-rays could be scattered by gases, and that each element had a characteristic X-ray spectrum. He won the 1917 Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery.

In 1912, Max von Laue, Paul Knipping, and Walter Friedrich first observed the diffraction of X-rays by crystals. This discovery, along with the early work of Paul Peter Ewald, William Henry Bragg, and William Lawrence Bragg, gave birth to the field of X-ray crystallography.^[49]

In 1913, Henry Moseley performed crystallography experiments with X-rays emanating from various metals and formulated Moseley’s law which relates the frequency of the X-rays to the atomic number of the metal.

The Coolidge X-ray tube was invented the same year by William D. Coolidge. It made possible the continuous emissions of X-rays. Modern X-ray tubes are based on this design, often employing the use of rotating targets which allow for significantly higher heat dissipation than static targets, further allowing higher quantity X-ray output for use in high powered applications such as rotational CT scanners.

The use of X-rays for medical purposes (which developed into the field of radiation therapy) was pioneered by Major John Hall-Edwards in Birmingham, England. Then in 1908, he had to have his left arm amputated because of the spread of X-ray dermatitis on his arm.^[50]

Medical science also used the motion picture to study human physiology. In 1913, a motion picture was made in Detroit showing a hard-boiled egg inside a human stomach. This early X-ray movie was recorded at a rate of one still image every four seconds.^[51] Dr Lewis Gregory Cole of New York was a pioneer of the technique, which he called «serial radiography».^[52][53] In 1918, X-rays were used in association with motion picture cameras to capture the human skeleton in motion.^[54][55][56] In 1920, it was used to record the movements of tongue and teeth in the study of languages by the Institute of Phonetics in England.^[57]

In 1914, Marie Curie developed radiological cars to support soldiers injured in World War I. The cars would allow for rapid X-ray imaging of wounded soldiers so battlefield surgeons could quickly and more accurately operate.^[58]

From the early 1920s through to the 1950s, X-ray machines were developed to assist in the fitting of shoes^[59] and were sold to commercial shoe stores.^[60][61][62] Concerns regarding the impact of frequent or poorly controlled use were expressed in the 1950s,^[63][64] leading to the practice’s eventual end that decade.^[65]

The X-ray microscope was developed during the 1950s.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory, launched on July 23, 1999, has been allowing the exploration of the very violent processes in the universe which produce X-rays. Unlike visible light, which gives a relatively stable view of the universe, the X-ray universe is unstable. It features stars being torn apart by black holes, galactic collisions, and novae, and neutron stars that build up layers of plasma that then explode into space.

An X-ray laser device was proposed as part of the Reagan Administration’s Strategic Defense Initiative in the 1980s, but the only test of the device (a sort of laser «blaster» or death ray, powered by a thermonuclear explosion) gave inconclusive results. For technical and political reasons, the overall project (including the X-ray laser) was defunded (though was later revived by the second Bush Administration as National Missile Defense using different technologies).

Phase-contrast X-ray imaging refers to a variety of techniques that use phase information of an X-ray beam to form the image. Due to its good sensitivity to density differences, it is especially useful for imaging soft tissues. It has become an important method for visualizing cellular and histological structures in a wide range of biological and medical studies. There are several technologies being used for X-ray phase-contrast imaging, all utilizing different principles to convert phase variations in the X-rays emerging from an object into intensity variations.^[66][67] These include propagation-based phase contrast,^[68] Talbot interferometry,^[67] refraction-enhanced imaging,^[69] and X-ray interferometry.^[70] These methods provide higher contrast compared to normal absorption-based X-ray imaging, making it possible to distinguish from each other details that have almost similar density. A disadvantage is that these methods require more sophisticated equipment, such as synchrotron or microfocus X-ray sources, X-ray optics, and high resolution X-ray detectors.

Energy ranges[edit]

Soft and hard X-rays[edit]

X-rays with high photon energies above 5–10 keV (below 0.2–0.1 nm wavelength) are called hard X-rays, while those with lower energy (and longer wavelength) are called soft X-rays.^[71] The intermediate range with photon energies of several keV is often referred to as tender X-rays. Due to their penetrating ability, hard X-rays are widely used to image the inside of objects (e.g. in medical radiography and airport security). The term X-ray is metonymically used to refer to a radiographic image produced using this method, in addition to the method itself. Since the wavelengths of hard X-rays are similar to the size of atoms, they are also useful for determining crystal structures by X-ray crystallography. By contrast, soft X-rays are easily absorbed in air; the attenuation length of 600 eV (~2 nm) X-rays in water is less than 1 micrometer.^[72]

Gamma rays[edit]

There is no consensus for a definition distinguishing between X-rays and gamma rays. One common practice is to distinguish between the two types of radiation based on their source: X-rays are emitted by electrons, while gamma rays are emitted by the atomic nucleus.^{[73][74][75][76]} This definition has several problems: other processes can also generate these high-energy photons, or sometimes the method of generation is not known. One common alternative is to distinguish X- and gamma radiation on the basis of wavelength (or, equivalently, frequency or photon energy), with radiation shorter than some arbitrary wavelength, such as 10⁻¹¹ m (0.1 Å), defined as gamma radiation.^[77] This criterion assigns a photon to an unambiguous category, but is only possible if wavelength is known. (Some measurement techniques do not distinguish between detected wavelengths.) However, these two definitions often coincide since the electromagnetic radiation emitted by X-ray tubes generally has a longer wavelength and lower photon energy than the radiation emitted by radioactive nuclei.^[73] Occasionally, one term or the other is used in specific contexts due to historical precedent, based on measurement (detection) technique, or based on their intended use rather than their wavelength or source.
Thus, gamma-rays generated for medical and industrial uses, for example radiotherapy, in the ranges of 6–20 MeV, can in this context also be referred to as X-rays.^[78]

Properties[edit]

X-ray photons carry enough energy to ionize atoms and disrupt molecular bonds. This makes it a type of ionizing radiation, and therefore harmful to living tissue. A very high radiation dose over a short period of time causes radiation sickness, while lower doses can give an increased risk of radiation-induced cancer. In medical imaging, this increased cancer risk is generally greatly outweighed by the benefits of the examination. The ionizing capability of X-rays can be utilized in cancer treatment to kill malignant cells using radiation therapy. It is also used for material characterization using X-ray spectroscopy.

Hard X-rays can traverse relatively thick objects without being much absorbed or scattered. For this reason, X-rays are widely used to image the inside of visually opaque objects. The most often seen applications are in medical radiography and airport security scanners, but similar techniques are also important in industry (e.g. industrial radiography and industrial CT scanning) and research (e.g. small animal CT). The penetration depth varies with several orders of magnitude over the X-ray spectrum. This allows the photon energy to be adjusted for the application so as to give sufficient transmission through the object and at the same time provide good contrast in the image.

X-rays have much shorter wavelengths than visible light, which makes it possible to probe structures much smaller than can be seen using a normal microscope. This property is used in X-ray microscopy to acquire high-resolution images, and also in X-ray crystallography to determine the positions of atoms in crystals.

Interaction with matter[edit]

X-rays interact with matter in three main ways, through photoabsorption, Compton scattering, and Rayleigh scattering. The strength of these interactions depends on the energy of the X-rays and the elemental composition of the material, but not much on chemical properties, since the X-ray photon energy is much higher than chemical binding energies. Photoabsorption or photoelectric absorption is the dominant interaction mechanism in the soft X-ray regime and for the lower hard X-ray energies. At higher energies, Compton scattering dominates.

Photoelectric absorption[edit]

The probability of a photoelectric absorption per unit mass is approximately proportional to Z³/E³, where Z is the atomic number and E is the energy of the incident photon.^[79] This rule is not valid close to inner shell electron binding energies where there are abrupt changes in interaction probability, so called absorption edges. However, the general trend of high absorption coefficients and thus short penetration depths for low photon energies and high atomic numbers is very strong. For soft tissue, photoabsorption dominates up to about 26 keV photon energy where Compton scattering takes over. For higher atomic number substances, this limit is higher. The high amount of calcium (Z = 20) in bones, together with their high density, is what makes them show up so clearly on medical radiographs.

A photoabsorbed photon transfers all its energy to the electron with which it interacts, thus ionizing the atom to which the electron was bound and producing a photoelectron that is likely to ionize more atoms in its path. An outer electron will fill the vacant electron position and produce either a characteristic X-ray or an Auger electron. These effects can be used for elemental detection through X-ray spectroscopy or Auger electron spectroscopy.

Compton scattering[edit]

Compton scattering is the predominant interaction between X-rays and soft tissue in medical imaging.^[80] Compton scattering is an inelastic scattering of the X-ray photon by an outer shell electron. Part of the energy of the photon is transferred to the scattering electron, thereby ionizing the atom and increasing the wavelength of the X-ray. The scattered photon can go in any direction, but a direction similar to the original direction is more likely, especially for high-energy X-rays. The probability for different scattering angles is described by the Klein–Nishina formula. The transferred energy can be directly obtained from the scattering angle from the conservation of energy and momentum.

Rayleigh scattering[edit]

Rayleigh scattering is the dominant elastic scattering mechanism in the X-ray regime.^[81] Inelastic forward scattering gives rise to the refractive index, which for X-rays is only slightly below 1.^[82]

Production[edit]

Whenever charged particles (electrons or ions) of sufficient energy hit a material, X-rays are produced.

Production by electrons[edit]

Characteristic X-ray emission lines for some common anode materials.^[83][84]

Anode material	Atomic number	Photon energy [keV]	Wavelength [nm]
Kα1	Kβ1	Kα1	Kβ1
W	74	59.3	67.2	0.0209	0.0184
Mo	42	17.5	19.6	0.0709	0.0632
Cu	29	8.05	8.91	0.154	0.139
Ag	47	22.2	24.9	0.0559	0.0497
Ga	31	9.25	10.26	0.134	0.121
In	49	24.2	27.3	0.0512	0.0455

X-rays can be generated by an X-ray tube, a vacuum tube that uses a high voltage to accelerate the electrons released by a hot cathode to a high velocity. The high velocity electrons collide with a metal target, the anode, creating the X-rays.^[85] In medical X-ray tubes the target is usually tungsten or a more crack-resistant alloy of rhenium (5%) and tungsten (95%), but sometimes molybdenum for more specialized applications, such as when softer X-rays are needed as in mammography. In crystallography, a copper target is most common, with cobalt often being used when fluorescence from iron content in the sample might otherwise present a problem.

The maximum energy of the produced X-ray photon is limited by the energy of the incident electron, which is equal to the voltage on the tube times the electron charge, so an 80 kV tube cannot create X-rays with an energy greater than 80 keV. When the electrons hit the target, X-rays are created by two different atomic processes:

1. Characteristic X-ray emission (X-ray electroluminescence): If the electron has enough energy, it can knock an orbital electron out of the inner electron shell of the target atom. After that, electrons from higher energy levels fill the vacancies, and X-ray photons are emitted. This process produces an emission spectrum of X-rays at a few discrete frequencies, sometimes referred to as spectral lines. Usually, these are transitions from the upper shells to the K shell (called K lines), to the L shell (called L lines) and so on. If the transition is from 2p to 1s, it is called Kα, while if it is from 3p to 1s it is Kβ. The frequencies of these lines depend on the material of the target and are therefore called characteristic lines. The Kα line usually has greater intensity than the Kβ one and is more desirable in diffraction experiments. Thus the Kβ line is filtered out by a filter. The filter is usually made of a metal having one proton less than the anode material (e.g. Ni filter for Cu anode or Nb filter for Mo anode).
2. Bremsstrahlung: This is radiation given off by the electrons as they are scattered by the strong electric field near the high-Z (proton number) nuclei. These X-rays have a continuous spectrum. The frequency of Bremsstrahlung is limited by the energy of incident electrons.

So, the resulting output of a tube consists of a continuous Bremsstrahlung spectrum falling off to zero at the tube voltage, plus several spikes at the characteristic lines. The voltages used in diagnostic X-ray tubes range from roughly 20 kV to 150 kV and thus the highest energies of the X-ray photons range from roughly 20 keV to 150 keV.^[86]

Both of these X-ray production processes are inefficient, with only about one percent of the electrical energy used by the tube converted into X-rays, and thus most of the electric power consumed by the tube is released as waste heat. When producing a usable flux of X-rays, the X-ray tube must be designed to dissipate the excess heat.

A specialized source of X-rays which is becoming widely used in research is synchrotron radiation, which is generated by particle accelerators. Its unique features are X-ray outputs many orders of magnitude greater than those of X-ray tubes, wide X-ray spectra, excellent collimation, and linear polarization.^[87]

Short nanosecond bursts of X-rays peaking at 15 keV in energy may be reliably produced by peeling pressure-sensitive adhesive tape from its backing in a moderate vacuum. This is likely to be the result of recombination of electrical charges produced by triboelectric charging. The intensity of X-ray triboluminescence is sufficient for it to be used as a source for X-ray imaging.^[88]

Production by fast positive ions[edit]

X-rays can also be produced by fast protons or other positive ions. The proton-induced X-ray emission or particle-induced X-ray emission is widely used as an analytical procedure. For high energies, the production cross section is proportional to Z₁²Z₂⁻⁴, where Z₁ refers to the atomic number of the ion, Z₂ refers to that of the target atom.^[89] An overview of these cross sections is given in the same reference.

Production in lightning and laboratory discharges[edit]

X-rays are also produced in lightning accompanying terrestrial gamma-ray flashes. The underlying mechanism is the acceleration of electrons in lightning related electric fields and the subsequent production of photons through Bremsstrahlung.^[90] This produces photons with energies of some few keV and several tens of MeV.^[91] In laboratory discharges with a gap size of approximately 1 meter length and a peak voltage of 1 MV, X-rays with a characteristic energy of 160 keV are observed.^[92] A possible explanation is the encounter of two streamers and the production of high-energy run-away electrons;^[93] however, microscopic simulations have shown that the duration of electric field enhancement between two streamers is too short to produce a significant number of run-away electrons.^[94] Recently, it has been proposed that air perturbations in the vicinity of streamers can facilitate the production of run-away electrons and hence of X-rays from discharges.^[95][96]

Detectors[edit]

X-ray detectors vary in shape and function depending on their purpose. Imaging detectors such as those used for radiography were originally based on photographic plates and later photographic film, but are now mostly replaced by various digital detector types such as image plates and flat panel detectors. For radiation protection direct exposure hazard is often evaluated using ionization chambers, while dosimeters are used to measure the radiation dose a person has been exposed to. X-ray spectra can be measured either by energy dispersive or wavelength dispersive spectrometers. For X-ray diffraction applications, such as X-ray crystallography, hybrid photon counting detectors are widely used.^[97]

Medical uses[edit]

Since Röntgen’s discovery that X-rays can identify bone structures, X-rays have been used for medical imaging.^[98] The first medical use was less than a month after his paper on the subject.^[35] Up to 2010, five billion medical imaging examinations had been conducted worldwide.^[99] Radiation exposure from medical imaging in 2006 made up about 50% of total ionizing radiation exposure in the United States.^[100]

Projectional radiographs[edit]

Projectional radiography is the practice of producing two-dimensional images using X-ray radiation. Bones contain a high concentration of calcium, which, due to its relatively high atomic number, absorbs X-rays efficiently. This reduces the amount of X-rays reaching the detector in the shadow of the bones, making them clearly visible on the radiograph. The lungs and trapped gas also show up clearly because of lower absorption compared to tissue, while differences between tissue types are harder to see.

Projectional radiographs are useful in the detection of pathology of the skeletal system as well as for detecting some disease processes in soft tissue. Some notable examples are the very common chest X-ray, which can be used to identify lung diseases such as pneumonia, lung cancer, or pulmonary edema, and the abdominal x-ray, which can detect bowel (or intestinal) obstruction, free air (from visceral perforations), and free fluid (in ascites). X-rays may also be used to detect pathology such as gallstones (which are rarely radiopaque) or kidney stones which are often (but not always) visible. Traditional plain X-rays are less useful in the imaging of soft tissues such as the brain or muscle. One area where projectional radiographs are used extensively is in evaluating how an orthopedic implant, such as a knee, hip or shoulder replacement, is situated in the body with respect to the surrounding bone. This can be assessed in two dimensions from plain radiographs, or it can be assessed in three dimensions if a technique called ‘2D to 3D registration’ is used. This technique purportedly negates projection errors associated with evaluating implant position from plain radiographs.^[101]

Dental radiography is commonly used in the diagnoses of common oral problems, such as cavities.

In medical diagnostic applications, the low energy (soft) X-rays are unwanted, since they are totally absorbed by the body, increasing the radiation dose without contributing to the image. Hence, a thin metal sheet, often of aluminium, called an X-ray filter, is usually placed over the window of the X-ray tube, absorbing the low energy part in the spectrum. This is called hardening the beam since it shifts the center of the spectrum towards higher energy (or harder) X-rays.

To generate an image of the cardiovascular system, including the arteries and veins (angiography) an initial image is taken of the anatomical region of interest. A second image is then taken of the same region after an iodinated contrast agent has been injected into the blood vessels within this area. These two images are then digitally subtracted, leaving an image of only the iodinated contrast outlining the blood vessels. The radiologist or surgeon then compares the image obtained to normal anatomical images to determine whether there is any damage or blockage of the vessel.

Computed tomography[edit]

Computed tomography (CT scanning) is a medical imaging modality where tomographic images or slices of specific areas of the body are obtained from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images taken in different directions.^[102] These cross-sectional images can be combined into a three-dimensional image of the inside of the body and used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in various medical disciplines.

Fluoroscopy[edit]

Fluoroscopy is an imaging technique commonly used by physicians or radiation therapists to obtain real-time moving images of the internal structures of a patient through the use of a fluoroscope. In its simplest form, a fluoroscope consists of an X-ray source and a fluorescent screen, between which a patient is placed. However, modern fluoroscopes couple the screen to an X-ray image intensifier and CCD video camera allowing the images to be recorded and played on a monitor. This method may use a contrast material. Examples include cardiac catheterization (to examine for coronary artery blockages) and barium swallow (to examine for esophageal disorders and swallowing disorders).

Radiotherapy[edit]

The use of X-rays as a treatment is known as radiation therapy and is largely used for the management (including palliation) of cancer; it requires higher radiation doses than those received for imaging alone. X-rays beams are used for treating skin cancers using lower energy X-ray beams while higher energy beams are used for treating cancers within the body such as brain, lung, prostate, and breast.^[103][104]

Adverse effects[edit]

Diagnostic X-rays (primarily from CT scans due to the large dose used) increase the risk of developmental problems and cancer in those exposed.^{[105][106][107]} X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation, and are classified as a carcinogen by both the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer and the U.S. government.^[99][108] It is estimated that 0.4% of current cancers in the United States are due to computed tomography (CT scans) performed in the past and that this may increase to as high as 1.5–2% with 2007 rates of CT usage.^[109]

Experimental and epidemiological data currently do not support the proposition that there is a threshold dose of radiation below which there is no increased risk of cancer.^[110] However, this is under increasing doubt.^[111] Cancer risk can start at the exposure of 1100 mGy.^[112] It is estimated that the additional radiation from diagnostic X-rays will increase the average person’s cumulative risk of getting cancer by age 75 by 0.6–3.0%.^[113] The amount of absorbed radiation depends upon the type of X-ray test and the body part involved.^[109] CT and fluoroscopy entail higher doses of radiation than do plain X-rays.

To place the increased risk in perspective, a plain chest X-ray will expose a person to the same amount from background radiation that people are exposed to (depending upon location) every day over 10 days, while exposure from a dental X-ray is approximately equivalent to 1 day of environmental background radiation.^[114] Each such X-ray would add less than 1 per 1,000,000 to the lifetime cancer risk. An abdominal or chest CT would be the equivalent to 2–3 years of background radiation to the whole body, or 4–5 years to the abdomen or chest, increasing the lifetime cancer risk between 1 per 1,000 to 1 per 10,000.^[114] This is compared to the roughly 40% chance of a US citizen developing cancer during their lifetime.^[115] For instance, the effective dose to the torso from a CT scan of the chest is about 5 mSv, and the absorbed dose is about 14 mGy.^[116] A head CT scan (1.5 mSv, 64 mGy)^[117] that is performed once with and once without contrast agent, would be equivalent to 40 years of background radiation to the head. Accurate estimation of effective doses due to CT is difficult with the estimation uncertainty range of about ±19% to ±32% for adult head scans depending upon the method used.^[118]

The risk of radiation is greater to a fetus, so in pregnant patients, the benefits of the investigation (X-ray) should be balanced with the potential hazards to the fetus.^[119][120] If there is 1 scan in 9 months, it can be harmful to the fetus.^[121] Therefore, women who are pregnant get ultrasounds as their diagnostic imaging because this does not use radiation.^[121] If there is too much radiation exposure there could be harmful effects on the fetus or the reproductive organs of the mother.^[121] In the US, there are an estimated 62 million CT scans performed annually, including more than 4 million on children.^[109] Avoiding unnecessary X-rays (especially CT scans) reduces radiation dose and any associated cancer risk.^[122]

Medical X-rays are a significant source of human-made radiation exposure. In 1987, they accounted for 58% of exposure from human-made sources in the United States. Since human-made sources accounted for only 18% of the total radiation exposure, most of which came from natural sources (82%), medical X-rays only accounted for 10% of total American radiation exposure; medical procedures as a whole (including nuclear medicine) accounted for 14% of total radiation exposure. By 2006, however, medical procedures in the United States were contributing much more ionizing radiation than was the case in the early 1980s. In 2006, medical exposure constituted nearly half of the total radiation exposure of the U.S. population from all sources. The increase is traceable to the growth in the use of medical imaging procedures, in particular computed tomography (CT), and to the growth in the use of nuclear medicine.^[100][123]

Dosage due to dental X-rays varies significantly depending on the procedure and the technology (film or digital). Depending on the procedure and the technology, a single dental X-ray of a human results in an exposure of 0.5 to 4 mrem. A full mouth series of X-rays may result in an exposure of up to 6 (digital) to 18 (film) mrem, for a yearly average of up to 40 mrem.^{[124][125][126][127][128][129][130]}

Financial incentives have been shown to have a significant impact on X-ray use with doctors who are paid a separate fee for each X-ray providing more X-rays.^[131]

Early photon tomography or EPT^[132] (as of 2015) along with other techniques^[133] are being researched as potential alternatives to X-rays for imaging applications.

Other uses[edit]

Other notable uses of X-rays include:

• X-ray crystallography in which the pattern produced by the diffraction of X-rays through the closely spaced lattice of atoms in a crystal is recorded and then analysed to reveal the nature of that lattice. A related technique, fiber diffraction, was used by Rosalind Franklin to discover the double helical structure of DNA.^[134]
• X-ray astronomy, which is an observational branch of astronomy, which deals with the study of X-ray emission from celestial objects.
• X-ray microscopic analysis, which uses electromagnetic radiation in the soft X-ray band to produce images of very small objects.
• X-ray fluorescence, a technique in which X-rays are generated within a specimen and detected. The outgoing energy of the X-ray can be used to identify the composition of the sample.
• Industrial radiography uses X-rays for inspection of industrial parts, particularly welds.
• Radiography of cultural objects, most often x-rays of paintings to reveal underdrawing, pentimenti alterations in the course of painting or by later restorers, and sometimes previous paintings on the support. Many pigments such as lead white show well in radiographs.
• X-ray spectromicroscopy has been used to analyse the reactions of pigments in paintings. For example, in analysing colour degradation in the paintings of van Gogh.^[135]

• Authentication and quality control of packaged items.
• Industrial CT (computed tomography), a process that uses X-ray equipment to produce three-dimensional representations of components both externally and internally. This is accomplished through computer processing of projection images of the scanned object in many directions.
• Airport security luggage scanners use X-rays for inspecting the interior of luggage for security threats before loading on aircraft.
• Border control truck scanners and domestic police departments use X-rays for inspecting the interior of trucks.

• X-ray art and fine art photography, artistic use of X-rays, for example the works by Stane Jagodič
• X-ray hair removal, a method popular in the 1920s but now banned by the FDA.^[137]
• Shoe-fitting fluoroscopes were popularized in the 1920s, banned in the US in the 1960s, in the UK in the 1970s, and later in continental Europe.
• Roentgen stereophotogrammetry is used to track movement of bones based on the implantation of markers
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is a chemical analysis technique relying on the photoelectric effect, usually employed in surface science.
• Radiation implosion is the use of high energy X-rays generated from a fission explosion (an A-bomb) to compress nuclear fuel to the point of fusion ignition (an H-bomb).

Visibility[edit]

While generally considered invisible to the human eye, in special circumstances X-rays can be visible. Brandes, in an experiment a short time after Röntgen’s landmark 1895 paper, reported after dark adaptation and placing his eye close to an X-ray tube, seeing a faint «blue-gray» glow which seemed to originate within the eye itself.^[138] Upon hearing this, Röntgen reviewed his record books and found he too had seen the effect. When placing an X-ray tube on the opposite side of a wooden door Röntgen had noted the same blue glow, seeming to emanate from the eye itself, but thought his observations to be spurious because he only saw the effect when he used one type of tube. Later he realized that the tube which had created the effect was the only one powerful enough to make the glow plainly visible and the experiment was thereafter readily repeatable. The knowledge that X-rays are actually faintly visible to the dark-adapted naked eye has largely been forgotten today; this is probably due to the desire not to repeat what would now be seen as a recklessly dangerous and potentially harmful experiment with ionizing radiation. It is not known what exact mechanism in the eye produces the visibility: it could be due to conventional detection (excitation of rhodopsin molecules in the retina), direct excitation of retinal nerve cells, or secondary detection via, for instance, X-ray induction of phosphorescence in the eyeball with conventional retinal detection of the secondarily produced visible light.

Though X-rays are otherwise invisible, it is possible to see the ionization of the air molecules if the intensity of the X-ray beam is high enough. The beamline from the wiggler at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility^[139] is one example of such high intensity.^[140]

Units of measure and exposure[edit]

The measure of X-rays ionizing ability is called the exposure:

• The coulomb per kilogram (C/kg) is the SI unit of ionizing radiation exposure, and it is the amount of radiation required to create one coulomb of charge of each polarity in one kilogram of matter.
• The roentgen (R) is an obsolete traditional unit of exposure, which represented the amount of radiation required to create one electrostatic unit of charge of each polarity in one cubic centimeter of dry air. 1 roentgen = 2.58×10⁻⁴ C/kg.

However, the effect of ionizing radiation on matter (especially living tissue) is more closely related to the amount of energy deposited into them rather than the charge generated. This measure of energy absorbed is called the absorbed dose:

• The gray (Gy), which has units of (joules/kilogram), is the SI unit of absorbed dose, and it is the amount of radiation required to deposit one joule of energy in one kilogram of any kind of matter.
• The rad is the (obsolete) corresponding traditional unit, equal to 10 millijoules of energy deposited per kilogram. 100 rad = 1 gray.

The equivalent dose is the measure of the biological effect of radiation on human tissue. For X-rays it is equal to the absorbed dose.

• The Roentgen equivalent man (rem) is the traditional unit of equivalent dose. For X-rays it is equal to the rad, or, in other words, 10 millijoules of energy deposited per kilogram. 100 rem = 1 Sv.
• The sievert (Sv) is the SI unit of equivalent dose, and also of effective dose. For X-rays the «equivalent dose» is numerically equal to a Gray (Gy). 1 Sv = 1 Gy. For the «effective dose» of X-rays, it is usually not equal to the Gray (Gy).

Ionizing radiation related quantities view ‧ talk ‧ edit

Quantity	Unit	Symbol	Derivation	Year	SI equivalent
Activity (A)	becquerel	Bq	s−1	1974	SI unit
curie	Ci	3.7 × 1010 s−1	1953	3.7×1010 Bq
rutherford	Rd	106 s−1	1946	1,000,000 Bq
Exposure (X)	coulomb per kilogram	C/kg	C⋅kg−1 of air	1974	SI unit
röntgen	R	esu / 0.001293 g of air	1928	2.58 × 10−4 C/kg
Absorbed dose (D)	gray	Gy	J⋅kg−1	1974	SI unit
erg per gram	erg/g	erg⋅g−1	1950	1.0 × 10−4 Gy
rad	rad	100 erg⋅g−1	1953	0.010 Gy
Equivalent dose (H)	sievert	Sv	J⋅kg−1 × WR	1977	SI unit
röntgen equivalent man	rem	100 erg⋅g−1 × WR	1971	0.010 Sv
Effective dose (E)	sievert	Sv	J⋅kg−1 × WR × WT	1977	SI unit
röntgen equivalent man	rem	100 erg⋅g−1 × WR × WT	1971	0.010 Sv

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• «On a New Kind of Rays». Nature. 53 (1369): 274–276. January 1896. Bibcode:1896Natur..53R.274.. doi:10.1038/053274b0.
• «Ion X-Ray tubes». The Cathode Ray Tube site.
• «Index of Early Bremsstrahlung Articles». Shade Tree Physics. 12 April 2010.
• Samuel JJ (20 October 2013). «La découverte des rayons X par Röntgen». Bibnum Education (in French). Röntgen’s discovery of X-rays (PDF; English translation)
• Oakley, P. A., Navid Ehsani, N., & Harrison, D. E. (2020). 5 Reasons Why Scoliosis X-Rays Are Not Harmful. Dose-Response. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559325820957797

Translingual[edit]

X-ray [2]
X-ray [3]

Alternative forms[edit]

• Xray, xray (NATO, FAA), x-ray

Etymology[edit]

From English Xray; some agencies have changed original spelling «x-ray» to «xray» to clarify that it is to be pronounced as a single word (single stress).

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): [ˈɛksrei̯]^[1]

Noun[edit]

X-ray or Xray

1. (international standards) NATO, ICAO, ITU & IMO phonetic alphabet code for the letter X.
2. (nautical) Signal flag for the letter X.
3. (time zone) UTC−11:00

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• x-ray, Xray

Etymology[edit]

From X +‎ ray, a calque of German X-Strahl, coined by Wilhelm Röntgen upon his discovery of the rays in 1895, X signifying their unknown nature.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɛks ɹeɪ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛks ˌɹeɪ/

Noun[edit]

X-ray (plural X-rays)

1. Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation usually produced by bombarding a metal target in a vacuum. Used to create images of the internal structure of objects; this is possible because X-rays pass through most objects and can expose photographic film.

   X-rays are light with a wavelength between 0.1 and 10 nm.

2. A radiograph: a photograph made with X-rays.

   The doctor ordered some X-rays of my injured wrist.

   • 2012 June 2, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Belgium”, in BBC Sport‎^[1]:

     And this friendly was not without its injury worries, with defender Gary Cahill substituted early on after a nasty, needless push by Dries Mertens that caused him to collide with goalkeeper Joe Hart, an incident that left the Chelsea defender requiring a precautionary X-ray at Wembley.

3. An X-ray machine.

Synonyms[edit]

• (radiation): Röntgen radiation / Rontgen radiation / Roentgen radiation
• (radiation): Röntgen rays / Rontgen rays / Roentgen rays
• (radiation): X-ray radiation

Derived terms[edit]

[edit]

• T-ray
• gamma ray

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

X-ray (third-person singular simple present X-rays, present participle X-raying, simple past and past participle X-rayed)

1. (transitive, informal) To take a radiograph of; to obtain an image of using X-ray radiation, especially for the purpose of medical diagnostic evaluation.

   Of course there was nothing wrong with my left wrist. They X-rayed the wrong arm!

Translations[edit]

Adjective[edit]

X-ray (not comparable)

1. Of or having to do with X-rays.

   I had to put my bags through an X-ray scanner at the airport.

   • 1974, Shel Silverstein, “Who”, Where the Sidewalk Ends, HarperCollins:

     Who will fly and have X-ray eyes— And be known as the man no bullet can kill?

Translations[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• X-ray on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• A picture of an X-ray machine

x-ray

or X-ray (ĕks′rā′)

n. or x ray or X ray

1.

a. A photon of electromagnetic radiation of very short wavelength, ranging from about 10 down to 0.01 nanometers, and very high energy, ranging from about 100 up to 100,000 electron volts.

b. often x-rays or X-rays A narrow beam of such photons. X-rays are used for their penetrating power in radiography, radiology, radiotherapy, and scientific research. Also called roentgen ray.

2.

a. A photograph taken with x-rays.

b. The act or process of taking such a photograph: Did the patient move during the x-ray?

tr.v. x-rayed, x-ray·ing, x-rays or X-rayed or X-ray·ing or X-rays

1. To irradiate with x-rays.

2. To photograph with x-rays.

---

[From translation of obsolete German X-Strahlen, x-rays (coined by their discoverer Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen ) : x, x, unknown factor (since x-rays were a previously unknown form of radiation) + Strahlen, pl. of Strahle, ray.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

X-ray

or

x-ray

n

1. (General Physics)

a. electromagnetic radiation emitted when matter is bombarded with fast electrons. X-rays have wavelengths shorter than that of ultraviolet radiation, that is less than about 1 × 10^–8 metres. They extend to indefinitely short wavelengths, but below about 1 × 10^–11 metres they are often called gamma radiation

b. (as modifier): X-ray astronomy.

2. (Medicine) a picture produced by exposing photographic film to X-rays: used in medicine as a diagnostic aid as parts of the body, such as bones, absorb X-rays and so appear as opaque areas on the picture

3. (Photography) a picture produced by exposing photographic film to X-rays: used in medicine as a diagnostic aid as parts of the body, such as bones, absorb X-rays and so appear as opaque areas on the picture

4. (Telecommunications) (usually capital) communications a code word for the letter x

vb (tr)

5. (Medicine) to photograph (part of the body, etc) using X-rays

6. (Photography) to photograph (part of the body, etc) using X-rays

7. (Medicine) to treat or examine by means of X-rays

[C19: partial translation of German X-Strahlen (from Strahl ray), coined by W. K. Roentgen in 1895]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

x-ray

or X-ray

(ˈɛksˌreɪ)

n., v. x-rayed or X-rayed, x-ray•ing or X-ray•ing,

1. Often, x-rays. electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in the range of approximately 0.1–10 nm, between ultraviolet radiation and gamma rays, and capable of penetrating solids and of ionizing gases.

2. a radiograph made by x-rays.

v.t.

3. to photograph, examine, or treat with x-rays.

adj.

4. of or pertaining to x-rays.

[1895–1900; translation of German X-Strahl (1895)]

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

x-ray

also X-ray (ĕks′rā′)

1. A high-energy stream of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength shorter than that of ultraviolet light but longer than that of a gamma ray. X-rays are absorbed by many forms of matter, including body tissues, and are used in medicine and industry to produce images of internal structures. See more at electromagnetic spectrum.

2. An image of an internal structure, such as a body part, taken with x-rays.

---

x-ray verb

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

X-ray

Past participle: X-rayed
Gerund: X-raying

Imperative
X-ray
X-ray

Present
I X-ray
you X-ray
he/she/it X-rays
we X-ray
you X-ray
they X-ray

Preterite
I X-rayed
you X-rayed
he/she/it X-rayed
we X-rayed
you X-rayed
they X-rayed

Present Continuous
I am X-raying
you are X-raying
he/she/it is X-raying
we are X-raying
you are X-raying
they are X-raying

Present Perfect
I have X-rayed
you have X-rayed
he/she/it has X-rayed
we have X-rayed
you have X-rayed
they have X-rayed

Past Continuous
I was X-raying
you were X-raying
he/she/it was X-raying
we were X-raying
you were X-raying
they were X-raying

Past Perfect
I had X-rayed
you had X-rayed
he/she/it had X-rayed
we had X-rayed
you had X-rayed
they had X-rayed

Future
I will X-ray
you will X-ray
he/she/it will X-ray
we will X-ray
you will X-ray
they will X-ray

Future Perfect
I will have X-rayed
you will have X-rayed
he/she/it will have X-rayed
we will have X-rayed
you will have X-rayed
they will have X-rayed

Future Continuous
I will be X-raying
you will be X-raying
he/she/it will be X-raying
we will be X-raying
you will be X-raying
they will be X-raying

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been X-raying
you have been X-raying
he/she/it has been X-raying
we have been X-raying
you have been X-raying
they have been X-raying

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been X-raying
you will have been X-raying
he/she/it will have been X-raying
we will have been X-raying
you will have been X-raying
they will have been X-raying

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been X-raying
you had been X-raying
he/she/it had been X-raying
we had been X-raying
you had been X-raying
they had been X-raying

Conditional
I would X-ray
you would X-ray
he/she/it would X-ray
we would X-ray
you would X-ray
they would X-ray

Past Conditional
I would have X-rayed
you would have X-rayed
he/she/it would have X-rayed
we would have X-rayed
you would have X-rayed
they would have X-rayed

---

x-ray

Past participle: x-rayed
Gerund: x-raying

Imperative
x-ray
x-ray

Present
I x-ray
you x-ray
he/she/it x-rays
we x-ray
you x-ray
they x-ray

Preterite
I x-rayed
you x-rayed
he/she/it x-rayed
we x-rayed
you x-rayed
they x-rayed

Present Continuous
I am x-raying
you are x-raying
he/she/it is x-raying
we are x-raying
you are x-raying
they are x-raying

Present Perfect
I have x-rayed
you have x-rayed
he/she/it has x-rayed
we have x-rayed
you have x-rayed
they have x-rayed

Past Continuous
I was x-raying
you were x-raying
he/she/it was x-raying
we were x-raying
you were x-raying
they were x-raying

Past Perfect
I had x-rayed
you had x-rayed
he/she/it had x-rayed
we had x-rayed
you had x-rayed
they had x-rayed

Future
I will x-ray
you will x-ray
he/she/it will x-ray
we will x-ray
you will x-ray
they will x-ray

Future Perfect
I will have x-rayed
you will have x-rayed
he/she/it will have x-rayed
we will have x-rayed
you will have x-rayed
they will have x-rayed

Future Continuous
I will be x-raying
you will be x-raying
he/she/it will be x-raying
we will be x-raying
you will be x-raying
they will be x-raying

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been x-raying
you have been x-raying
he/she/it has been x-raying
we have been x-raying
you have been x-raying
they have been x-raying

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been x-raying
you will have been x-raying
he/she/it will have been x-raying
we will have been x-raying
you will have been x-raying
they will have been x-raying

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been x-raying
you had been x-raying
he/she/it had been x-raying
we had been x-raying
you had been x-raying
they had been x-raying

Conditional
I would x-ray
you would x-ray
he/she/it would x-ray
we would x-ray
you would x-ray
they would x-ray

Past Conditional
I would have x-rayed
you would have x-rayed
he/she/it would have x-rayed
we would have x-rayed
you would have x-rayed
they would have x-rayed

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Translations

1	0   0 High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used in low doses to make images that help to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat cancer.

2	0   0 x-ray An X-ray picture in which the beams pass through the patient anteroposteriorly (from front to back).

3	0   0 x-ray An X-ray picture that is taken from the side.

4	0   0 x-ray An X-ray picture in which the beams pass through the patient posteroanteriorly (from back to front).

5	0   0 x-ray A type of radiation used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases. In low doses, x-rays are used to diagnose diseases by making pictures of the inside of the body. In high doses, x- [..]

6	0   0 x-ray Relationships Related Term:  radiograph n. ~ 1. High-energy electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the approximate range from 0.01 to 10 nanometers. — 2. An image formed by such radiation tha [..]

7	0   0 x-ray A very high energy form of electromagnetic radiation (though not as high energy as gamma rays). X-rays typically have wavelengths from a few picometers up to 20 nanometers. X-rays easily penetrate sof [..]

8	0   0 x-ray A type of electromagnetic radiation having low energy levels.

9	0   0 x-ray A ray that is used to see through something; can diagnose bone problems in animals and people

10	0   0 x-ray See radiograph.

11	0   0 x-ray The ionizing electromagnetic radiation emitted from a vacuum tube, resulting from the bombardment of the target anode with a stream of electrons from a heated cathode. Ionizing electromagnetic radiati [..]

12	0   0 x-ray 1896, X-rays, translation of German X-strahlen, from X, algebraic symbol for an unknown quantity, + Strahl (plural Strahlen) «beam, ray.» Coined 1895 by German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Rönt [..]

13	0   0 x-ray Radiation that, at low levels, can be used to make images of the inside of the body. For example, a mammogram is an X-ray image of the breast. At high levels of radiation, X-rays can be used in cancer [..]

14	0   0 x-ray Electromagnetic radiation of a very short wavelength and very high-energy. X-rays have shorter wavelengths than ultraviolet light but longer wavelengths than cosmic rays.

15	0   0 x-ray Electromagnetic radiation that has a very short wavelength, emitted from a substance when it is attacked by a line of electrons in a vacuum. Machines are able to produce this, and they are known as x- [..]

16	0   0 x-ray radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum with a very short wavelength and very high energy.

17	0   0 x-ray (Or x-radiation, Röntgen ray.) Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than that of ultraviolet radiation and greater than that of gamma radiation. Discovered accidentally by Röntgen in 1 [..]

18	0   0 x-ray a special kind of photograph which shows doctors what the inside of your body looks like

19	0   0 x-ray Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between those of ultraviolet and gamma rays, approximately 0.01-10 nm. At these short wavelengths, it is more common to talk in terms of photon energies. These energies range from 0.1-100 keV.

20	0   0 x-ray Higher-energy part of the X-ray spectrum ranging from approximately 5 keV to 100 keV.

21	0   0 x-ray Band of low energy X-rays, between 0.1 keV and approximately 5 keV.

22	0   0 x-ray noun. an electromagnetic dispersion of brief wavelengths generated by bombarding a heavy metal objective with high-energy electrons in a vacuum tube. X-rays are utilized for diagnostic reasons to see [..]

23	0   0 x-ray radiography

24	0   0 x-ray Psychic surgeon

25	0   0 x-ray Form of radiant energy with wavelength shorter than that of visible light, and with the ability to penetrate materials that absorb or reflect ordinary light. X-rays are usually produced by bombarding [..]

26	0   0 x-ray Electromagnetic radiations with wavelengths much shorter than visible light but usually longer than gamma rays.

27	0   0 x-ray  — Application of electromagnetic radiation to produce a film or picture of a bone or soft-tissue area of the body

28	0   0 x-ray A stream of high-energy photons, used for their penetrating power in radiography, radiology, radiotherapy, and scientific research.

29	0   0 x-ray Electromagnetic radiation of very short wavelength. lying within the wavelength interval of 0.1 to 1.5 angstroms (between gamma rays and ultraviolet radiation). X-rays penetrate various thicknesses of [..]

30	0   0 x-ray electromagnetic radiation caused by deflection of electrons from their original paths, or inner orbital electrons that change their orbital levels around the atomic nucleus. X-rays, like gamma rays ca [..]

31

0   0 x-ray X-ray radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum between the UV and gamma-ray components. As X-rays are blocked by our atmosphere X-ray astronomy is only possible from space such as with the Chandra telescope. X-ray emissions are associated with high-energy astrophysical events such as accretion onto neutron stars and black holes.

32	0   0 x-ray a photograph of a person’s bones and organs

33	0   0 x-ray (n) electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target(n) a radiogram made by exposing photographic film to X rays; used in medical diagnosis(v)  [..]

34	0   0 x-ray Diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.

35	0   0 x-ray High-energy electromagnetic radiation used to diagnose and treat disease. Diagnostic test using high energy to visualize internal body organs. See Radiation therapy.

36	0   0 x-ray High energy electromagnetic radiation that is used to diagnose and treat cancer.

37	0   0 x-ray An electromagnetic wave of very short wavelength, able to pass through many materials opaque to light.

38	0   0 x-ray An X-ray is a diagnostic test that images bones by shooting an X-ray beam through the body. The calcium in bones blocks penetration of the X-ray beam and the image of the bones is picked up as a shado [..]

39	0   0 x-ray A photograph-like image obtained by using small doses of radiation to obtain a picture.

40	0   0 x-ray The X-ray is:  a photon of high energy, short wavelength electomagnetic radiation that is not made up matter at all.. it is pure energy.  the result of an atomic electron transition for a very heavy [..]

41	0   0 x-ray This is a picture that can show bones and other internal parts of the body. It is used to help diagnose certain conditions

42	0   0 x-ray Definition: A type of high-energy radiation. In low doses, x-rays are used to diagnose diseases by making pictures of the inside of the body. In high doses, x-rays are used to treat cancer. See radiat [..]

43	0   0 x-ray X-rays are special pictures of the inside of your body. A doctor will decide when you need an X-ray and what body part needs to be X-rayed. An X-ray machine, not a camera, is used to take these pictur [..]

44

0   0 x-ray  Radiation used for diagnostic purposes to photograph the bone tissue of the tooth above and below the gum line. Get a Free Dental Quote! PrimeStar dental plans include coverage for all ages, no enrollment fees, no waiting periods and the freedom to choose any dentist. Get a Free Quote Now FOOTER Stay up to date. Sign up [..]

45	0   0 x-ray That part of the electromagnetic spectrum above ultraviolet in frequency (ie., of shorter wavelength than UV, but not as short as Gamma-rays).

46	0   0 x-ray An electromagnetic image often used to diagnose illnesses or injuries.

47	0   0 x-ray Short electromagnetic waves whose wavelengths range from .00001 to 3000 angstroms.

48	0   0 x-ray Used to produce images of dense tissues in the body such as bone or lungs.

49	0   0 x-ray A high-energy form of electromagnetic radiation that can be used to produce images that allow a veterinarian to see inside the body; also used to describe the pictures produced by the rays, which are [..]

50	0   0 x-ray A noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Imaging with x-rays involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictur [..]

51	0   0 x-ray High-energy photon with a wavelength in the approximate range from 0.05 angstroms to 100 angstroms.

52	0   0 x-ray A type of high-energy radiation. In low doses, x-rays are used to diagnose diseases by making pictures of the inside of the body. In high doses, x-rays are used to treat cancer. (NCI)

53	0   0 x-ray a diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.

54	0   0 x-ray A type of high-energy radiation. In low doses, x-rays are used to diagnose diseases by making pictures of the inside of the body. In high doses, x-rays are used to treat cancer.

55	0   0 x-ray

56	0   0 x-ray A type of energy that passes through soft tissues and is absorbed by dense tissue. Often used by dentists to see the teeth and roots in the jaw.

57	0   0 x-ray High-energy radiation used in low doses to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat cancer.

58	0   0 x-ray An energy beam of very short wavelengths (0.1 to 1000 Å) produced by the bombardment of various materials with high velocity electrons.

59	0   0 x-ray A camera that produces a visual picture of the internal organs.

60	0   0 x-ray Electromagnetic radiation that has a very short wavelength, emitted from a substance when it is attacked by a line of electrons in a vacuum. Machines are able to produce this, and they are known as x- [..]

61	0   0 x-ray Application of electromagnetic radiation to produce a film or picture of a bone or soft-tissue area of the body

62	0   0 x-ray a procedure that uses radiation to take pictures of internal areas of the body. They’re done by an X-ray technician in the radiology department of a hospital, a freestanding radiology center, or [..]

63	0   0 x-ray The letter «X» in radio comm.

64	0   0 x-ray high-energy radiation. Used in low doses to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat cancer.

65	0   0 x-ray Radiation of extremely short wavelength (generally less than 1 nm). definition courtesy of: NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

66	0   0 x-ray A diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.

67	0   0 x-ray a diagnostic technique that uses radiation to view internal body structures.

68	0   0 x-ray a diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.

69	0   0 x-ray Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation usually produced by bombarding a metal target in a vacuum. Used to create images of the internal structure of objects; this is possible because X-rays pass [..]

70	0   0 x-ray a machine that uses radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body.

71	0   0 x-ray A type of high energy radiation that shows solid areas in the body such as bone. It is used to diagnose different conditions.

72	0   0 x-ray A type of high-energy radiation. In low doses, x-rays are used to diagnose diseases by making pictures of the inside of the body. In high doses, x-rays are used to treat cancer.

73	0   0 x-ray X-rays make up X-radiation, a form of electromagnetic radiation. Most X-rays have a wavelength ranging from 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz [..]

74	0   0 x-ray In chess, the term X-ray or X-ray attack is sometimes used as a synonym for skewer. It can also refer to a tactic where a piece either: indirectly attacks an enemy piece through another piece or piece [..]

75	0   0 x-ray X-radiation (composed of X-rays) is a form of ionizing electromagnetic radiation. «X-ray» is also short for an image produced by X-rays, a radiograph. X-ray or Xray may also refer to:

76	0   0 x-ray X-Ray (1994) was Ray Davies’ first major attempt to write prose outside his musical career as founding member of the British rock band the Kinks. Robert Polito calls it an «experimental non-ficti [..]

77	0   0 x-ray X–Ray is a ballet made by New York City Ballet balletmaster in chief Peter Martins to John Adams’ 1994 Violin Concerto, commissioned jointly by the Minnesota Orchestra and City Ballet. The ballet pr [..]

78	0   0 x-ray X-Ray is the second single from Camouflage’s fifth studio album Spice Crackers, released in 1996. The single contains three different single versions of the song; the Soft Single Mix, which is essenti [..]

79	0   0 x-ray X-Ray is a reference tool, introduced in September 2011, that is incorporated in the Amazon Kindle Touch and later models, Kindle Fire tablets, Kindle apps for mobile platforms, Fire Phones, and Fire [..]

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ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD X-RAY

Partial translation of German X-Strahlen (from Strahl ray), coined by W. K. Roentgen in 1895.

PRONUNCIATION OF X-RAY

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF X-RAY

X-Ray is a verb and can also act as a noun.

WHAT DOES X-RAY MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of X-ray in the English dictionary

The first definition of X-ray in the dictionary is electromagnetic radiation emitted when matter is bombarded with fast electrons. X-rays have wavelengths shorter than that of ultraviolet radiation, that is less than about 1 × 10–8 metres. They extend to indefinitely short wavelengths, but below about 1 × 10–11 metres they are often called gamma radiation. Other definition of X-ray is a picture produced by exposing photographic film to X-rays: used in medicine as a diagnostic aid as parts of the body, such as bones, absorb X-rays and so appear as opaque areas on the picture. X-Ray is also a code word for the letter x.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO X-RAY

PRESENT

PAST

FUTURE

CONDITIONAL

IMPERATIVE

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

SYNONYMS OF «X-RAY»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «X-ray» and belong to the same grammatical category.

TRANSLATION OF X-RAY

Find out the translation of X-ray to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «X-RAY»

The term «X-ray» is very widely used and occupies the 10.242 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.

Principal search tendencies and common uses of X-ray

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «X-RAY» OVER TIME

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «X-RAY»

Discover the use of X-ray in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to X-ray and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «X-RAY»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term X-ray is used in the context of the following news items.

REFERENCE

« EDUCALINGO. X-Ray [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/x-ray>. Apr 2023 ».

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