Röntgenstrålarna

Röntgenstrålarna, commonly known as X-rays, are a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than ultraviolet light and longer than gamma rays. They were discovered in 1895 by German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, who was experimenting with cathode ray tubes. Röntgen observed that an unknown ray emitted from the tube could penetrate opaque materials and cause fluorescence on a screen. He named these mysterious rays "X-rays" due to their unknown nature.

The production of X-rays typically involves accelerating a beam of electrons to high speeds and then suddenly stopping them when they strike a metal target, usually made of tungsten. This rapid deceleration causes the electrons to emit X-ray photons. Another method of X-ray production is through the excitation of atoms in a target material, where incoming electrons knock out inner-shell electrons, and outer-shell electrons fall into the vacancies, emitting X-rays in the process.

X-rays are characterized by their high energy and their ability to penetrate matter. Different materials absorb X-rays to varying degrees, with denser materials like bone absorbing more X-rays than softer tissues like muscle. This differential absorption is the basis for medical imaging, where X-rays are passed through the body and detected on the other side, creating an image that reveals internal structures.

Beyond medical diagnostics, X-rays have numerous applications in science and industry. They are used in security scanners to inspect luggage, in materials science to study crystal structures (X-ray crystallography), and in astronomy to observe celestial objects that emit X-ray radiation. However, due to their ionizing nature, prolonged exposure to X-rays can be harmful to living tissues, necessitating precautions and shielding during their use.