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How are X-rays Produced?
Most irradiators traditionally use a radioactive substance which continuously gives
off gamma radiation. The RS-2000 uses an x-ray tube to produce x-rays as its
ionizing radiation source. It should be noted that the only thing that differs
between an x-ray and gamma ray is where they were originated (x-rays are
produced outside the nucleus, gamma rays originate inside the nucleus), otherwise
you can't tell the difference between either.
Like the x-ray machine used to take x-rays on patients, the RS-2000 irradiator uses
an x-ray tube to generate x-rays (see picture below). Basically, what happens is that
a metal filament is heated up to a very high temperature allowing electrons from
the metal to essentially "boil" off. Electrons, the small negatively charged particles
orbiting the nucleus, are then accelerated across the glass tube to a positively
charged anode. While the majority of the electrons collide with the metal anode
and generate heat, some of the electrons lose their energy in the form of x-rays.
An important distinction that should be made between traditional irradiators that
use a radioactive source and the RS-2000 unit which uses an x-ray tube is that no
radiation is produced in the x-ray tube when the power is off (while the radioactive
source continuously gives off radiation).
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