Question

It has been determined that an x-ray machine has a Half Value Layer of 1.80 mm Aluminum. Explain the concerns with the emission of the photon beam and patient exposure. What are the changes to the continuous and discrete spectrums, and the correction measures required? Be descriptive and do not use fragmented sentences.

Answer 1

There are some serious concerns regarding the emission of the X-ray photon beam and patient exposure. X-ray photons carry enough energy to ionize atoms and disrupt molecular bonds. Therefore, these photons are very dangerous for the patients exposed to them. They can bring harm to the patient's living tissue. X-ray photons increases the risk of developmental problems and cancer in the exposed patients. These photons can cause adverse hazards to the foetus and pregnant women.

Aluminum plate used in this X-ray machine acts as a filter for the X-ray photon beam. When any X-ray hits a metal object (X-ray filter) like aluminium, copper, etc, then the metal absorbs some energy of that photon and thus takes away some energy and momentum from the photon. This causes changes to the continuous and discrete spectrums.

Therefore, the energy of the X-ray photon beam should be properly controlled by adjusting the thickness of metal X-ray filter to the optimum value. A filter equivalent to at least 2.5 mm of aluminum is incorporated as standard in medical X-ray tubes. Thus, here in this case, slight increase in the thickness of the aluminum plate from 1.80 mm should be done so as to protect the patient from the exposure of the X-ray photon beam.

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