X-rays from thick tungsten targets irradiated by 500–50 keV electrons

Abstract A Monte Carlo method was used to calculate the emission of bremsstrahlung and characteristic K X-rays, and the backscattering of electrons, from thick tungsten irradiated by electrons with energies between 500 and 50 keV, incident on the target surface at many angles, from perpendicular to almost grazing. An extensive database was produced consisting of the spectra of emitted X-rays, and of reflected electrons, emerging in many directions. This database is available on a compact disk. Auxiliary calculations were developed to take into account the modification of the X-ray spectra by filters, and to determine quantities which characterize the X-ray output: (1) the fraction of the incident electron energy that is converted to emitted X-ray energy; (2) the exposure rate (in roentgen per second) per unit power input, and per unit rate of energy deposition in the target.