Editing X-ray machine (section)

==Structure==
[[File:GemX2.png|200px|thumb|'''''GemX-160''''' - portable wireless controlled battery-powered X-ray generator for use in [[non-destructive testing]] and security.]]
[[File:Portable x-ray device.jpg|200px|thumb|'''''XR150''''' - portable pulsed X-ray battery powered X-ray generator used in security.]]
{{See|X-ray tube}}
An X-ray generator generally contains an [[X-ray tube]] to produce the X-rays. Possibly, [[radioisotope]]s can also be used to generate X-rays.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=i_iDRTp75AsC&pg=PA442 Page 442] in: {{cite book|title=Handbook of X-Ray Spectrometry, Second Edition, Practical Spectroscopy|author=Rene Van Grieken, A. Markowicz|publisher=CRC Press|year=2001|isbn=9780203908709}}</ref>

An X-ray tube is a simple [[vacuum tube]] that contains a [[cathode]], which directs a stream of electrons into a vacuum, and an [[anode]], which collects the electrons and is made of tungsten to evacuate the heat generated by the collision. When the electrons collide with the target, about 1% of the resulting energy is emitted as [[X-ray]]s, with the remaining 99% released as heat. Due to the high energy of the electrons that reach relativistic speeds, the target is usually made of [[tungsten]] even if other material can be used particularly in XRF applications.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

An X-ray generator also needs to contain a cooling system to cool the anode; many X-ray generators use water or oil recirculating systems.<ref name="ntd">[http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Radiography/EquipmentMaterials/xrayGenerators.htm "X-ray Generators"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423143910/http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Radiography/EquipmentMaterials/xrayGenerators.htm |date=2011-04-23 }}, NDT Resource Center.  Page fetched April 21, 2011.</ref>

===Medical imaging===
[[File:Projectional radiography components.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Acquisition of [[projectional radiography]], with an X-ray generator and a [[X-ray detector|detector]].]]
In medical imaging applications, an X-ray machine has a control console that is used by a radiologic technologist to select X-ray techniques suitable for the specific exam, a power supply that creates and produces the desired kVp (peak kilovoltage), mA (milliamperes, sometimes referred to as mAs which is actually mA multiplied by the desired exposure length) for the X-ray tube, and the X-ray tube itself.