What is an x ray tube?
An x-ray tube is a device that is used to create x-rays for diagnostic imaging. It contains a negatively charged cathode that contains a filament (usually made of coiled tungsten wire) to produce electrons. The electrons are accelerated toward a positively charged anode that contains a target (usually made of tungsten or made of molybdenum and rhodium in mammography) where x-rays are produced. Both the cathode and anode are housed within a vacuum tube.
