röntgensugárzással

X‑ray irradiation, known in Hungarian as röntgensugárzás, refers to the emission of high‑energy electromagnetic radiation produced by accelerating electrons in a vacuum tube. The resulting photons have wavelengths shorter than visible light and are capable of passing through many materials, making them useful for imaging and material analysis.

The discovery of X‑rays by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895 opened the field of diagnostic radiology. Medical imaging rapidly expanded to include orthogonal projections, computed tomography, and interventional procedures that rely on real‑time fluoroscopy. Beyond medicine, röntgensugárzás is applied in materials science for non‑destructive testing, crystallography, and electron microscopy, as well as in security screening and astronomical observations.

Exposure to X‑rays can induce ionization in living tissues, potentially damaging DNA and leading to acute skin or bone injuries at high doses, or increasing cancer risk after chronic low‑level exposure. Consequently, regulations such as the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) guidelines and national dose limits aim to balance diagnostic benefit against risk. Protective measures include lead shielding, dose monitoring devices, and optimisation of imaging protocols to keep the dose as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).

Technological advances in detector sensitivity and image reconstruction, such as digital radiography and iterative reconstruction algorithms, have substantially reduced patient dose while maintaining diagnostic quality. Continued research in dosimetry, radiation biology, and imaging hardware ensures that röntgensugárzás remains a vital but carefully controlled tool in both clinical and industrial settings.