{"id":4886,"date":"2015-06-23T08:00:09","date_gmt":"2015-06-23T12:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/?p=4886"},"modified":"2026-01-13T16:41:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T16:41:54","slug":"going-to-the-source-x-ray-tubes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/going-to-the-source-x-ray-tubes\/","title":{"rendered":"Going to the Source: X-ray Tubes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"float: right;border: 0;margin: 10px\" title=\"x-ray source\" src=\"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/xraysource3.jpg\" alt=\"x-ray source\" width=\"500\" height=\"327\" \/>X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology is a powerful technique for elemental analysis. The XRF process starts with irradiating a solid or liquid sample with high energy x-rays from a controlled X-ray source. In handheld and portable Energy-dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) instruments, the X-ray source is typically an X-ray tube, which has several advantages over radioisotopes including less stringent licensing issues and the fact that X-ray emissions from tubes can be easily modified for specific analytical applications. In this blog, we\u2019ll explain how an X-ray tube works. The major X-ray tube components are the cathode, anode, the tube envelope, the tube housing, and the window.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/radiopaedia.org\/articles\/cathode-1\"><strong>Cathode<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The cathode serves to expel the electrons from the circuit and focus them in a beam on the focal spot of the anode. It is a controlled source of electrons for the generation of X-ray beams. The electrons are produced by heating the filament, i.e., a coil of wire made from tungsten, placed within a highly polished nickel focusing cup providing electrostatic focusing of the beam on the anode. Heat is used to expel the electrons from the cathode.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/radiopaedia.org\/articles\/anode-1\"><strong>Anode<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The anode\u00a0represents the component in which the x-rays are produced. It is a piece of metal, shaped in the form of a beveled disk, connected to the positive side of electrical circuit. The anode converts the energy of the electrons into X-rays and dissipates the heat, considered the byproduct.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Envelope<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An airtight enclosure that houses the cathode and anode. It is often made from metal and ceramic because these materials are able to withstand the tremendous amount of heat generated during X-ray production, but they can also be made of glass.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Housing<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Provides protection and absorbs excess radiation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Window<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The X-ray tube window typically is made from beryllium because it allows X-rays to pass through but has sufficient strength to hold the vacuum required for the X-ray tube to operate. When an electrical current is passed through the cathode, the electrons generated by the cathode are accelerated by high voltage towards a metal target, or anode. X-rays known as Bremsstrahlung (\u201cbraking radiation\u201d) are produced when the electrons are suddenly decelerated upon collision with the anode. When an atom in the sample is struck with an X-ray of sufficient energy (greater than the atom\u2019s K or L shell binding energy), an electron from one of the atom\u2019s inner orbital shells is dislodged. The atom regains stability, filling the vacancy left in the inner orbital shell with an electron from one of the atom\u2019s higher energy orbital shells. The electron drops to the lower energy state by releasing a fluorescent X-ray. The energy of this X-ray is equal to the specific difference in energy between two quantum states of the electron. These X-rays all have sufficient energy to pass through the X-ray tube window and reach the sample. The measurement of this energy is the basis of <a href=\"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/technology-focus-x-ray-fluorescence-xrf-in-mining\/\">XRF analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Requirements for Handheld X-ray Tube Based XRF Analyzers<\/strong> In the United States devices with X-ray tubes as the signal source are regulated by state, often the same state agency that controls radioactive material when the state is an\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/nrc-stp.ornl.gov\/rulemaking.html\">agreement state<\/a>. In almost all states, a registration, but not a license, is required.\u00a0Usually, the registration form provides the state with information about the device, its purpose, and your company.\u00a0Many states charge an annual registration fee. In a few states, there are more strict requirements such as an on-site device inspection and certification by a local radiation safety consultant as a prerequisite to obtaining the registration and authorization to use the device.<\/p>\n<p>Contact your\u00a0state regulator for further information, particularly prior to transporting or operating an XRF analyzer in another state.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about XRF technology, handheld and portable XRF analyzers, and their many applications in the mining industry, download the free eBook, <a href=\"http:\/\/info3.thermoscientific.com\/LP=415?wt.mc_id=cad_xrf_eBook_banner_blog_1014_mining\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">XRF in the Field: Technology for the Non-Scientist<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology is a powerful technique for elemental analysis. The XRF process starts with irradiating a solid or liquid sample with high energy x-rays from a controlled X-ray source. In handheld and portable Energy-dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) instruments, the X-ray source is typically an X-ray tube, which has several advantages over radioisotopes including<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":9104,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[225],"tags":[],"division":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4886","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general","8":"entry"},"_selected_authors":[1047],"_selected_reviewers":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Going to the Source: X-ray Tubes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Requirements for Handheld X-ray Tube Based XRF Analyzers. 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Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometers play a vital role by providing fast, non-destructive elemental analysis of ores, concentrates, and intermediate products. This enables mining operations to optimize extraction efficiency, maintain quality assurance, and meet stringent industry\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/elemental-geochemical-analysis\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"a rock showing signs of copper and gold.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13986,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/best-practices-for-accurate-in-situ-geochemical-analysis\/","url_meta":{"origin":4886,"position":1},"title":"Best Practices for Accurate In Situ Geochemical Analysis","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"March 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In situ geochemical analysis refers to elemental testing performed directly on geological materials in their natural location, avoiding the delays and costs associated with laboratory testing.\u00a0 While in situ geochemical analysis delivers immediate elemental data, the reliability of those results depends heavily on proper field methodology. 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