The continuous x-ray spectrum refers the range of photon energies produced in an x-ray tube due to the properties of Bremsstrahlung radiation.
The energy of x-ray photons can take a value from zero to the maximum kinetic energy of the incident electrons.
Both the continuous x-ray spectrum and the characteristic peaks specific to the absorber will contribute to the total x-ray spectrum.
Factors
kilovoltage peak (kVp): increases kVp not only causes an increase in maximum photon energy, but it also increases the number of photons produced 3,4
voltage waveform: reducing voltage ripple increases the yield of high-energy photons where maximum photon energy remains unchanged 2,4
anode angle: increasing anode angle reduces absorption length of the x-ray spectrum (see anode heel effect), thus increasing the yield of high energy photons where maximum photon energy remains unchanged 2
filtration: results in x-ray spectrum hardening and reduction in tube output 2,4
tube current does not affect the distribution of photon energies but photon intensities increases proportionally with mAs 2,5
anode materials: different anode materials such as tungsten, molybdenum, and rhodium produces different x-ray spectra 3
anode roughness: over an operational lifetime of an x-ray tube, anode surface will become rougher; this causes a slight increase in x-ray filtration, causing x-ray spectrum hardening
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