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Bremsstrahlung

Radswiki and Dr J Yeung et al.

X-rays are basically produced by electrons bombarding the target. When bombarding electrons penetrate into the target, some electrons course close to the nucleus. The course of these electrons would be deflected, and a portion or all of their kinetic energy would be lost. The lost energy is emitted as X-ray photons, so-called Bremsstrahlung. Bremsstrahlung can have any energy up to keV equivalent to the kV between the anode and cathode, therefore forming a continuous spectrum.