Röntgenstrahl

Röntgenstrahl, or X-ray ray, is a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1895. Röntgen named the phenomenon Röntgenstrahlung, and in German usage the beam is commonly referred to as a Röntgenstrahl. X-rays have wavelengths on the order of 0.01 to 10 nanometers and can penetrate many materials that are opaque to visible light.

In modern equipment, X-rays are produced in sealed tubes by accelerating electrons to high energy and directing them at a metal target (typically tungsten). The interaction yields bremsstrahlung, a continuous spectrum, and characteristic X-rays at specific energies. The resulting beam is highly penetrating and its attenuation depends on material density and atomic number.

Applications include diagnostic radiography, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, and industrial non-destructive testing. In medicine, Röntgenstrahlen form images by recording transmitted intensity; denser structures appear brighter (e.g., bones).

Because X-rays are ionizing radiation, exposure carries a risk of tissue damage and cancer with sufficient dose. Protection relies on time, distance, and shielding (lead aprons, shields). Doses are measured in grays or sieverts, and practices follow the ALARA principle to minimize exposure.