Measurement of the bremsstrahlung spectra generated from thick targets with Z=2–78 under the impact of 10 keV electrons

Abstract

We present new experimental data on thick target bremsstrahlung spectra generated from the interaction of energetic electrons with bulk matter. The ‘photon yields’ in terms of double differential cross-sections (DDCS) are measured for pure elements of thick targets: Ti (Z = 22), Ag (Z = 47), W (Z = 74) and Pt (Z = 78) under the impact of 10 keV electrons. Comparison of DDCS obtained from the experimental data is made with those predicted by Monte-Carlo (MC) calculations using PENELOPE code. A close agreement between the experimental data and the MC calculations is found for all the four targets within the experimental error of 16%. Furthermore, the ratios of DDCS of bremsstrahlung photons emitted from Ag, W and Pt with those from Ti as a function of photon energy are examined with a relatively lower uncertainty of about 10% and they are compared with MC calculations. A satisfactory agreement is found between the experiment and the calculations within some normalizing factors. The variations of DDCS as a function of Z and of photon energy are also studied which show that the DDCS vary closely with Z; however, some deviations are observed for ‘tip’ photons emitted from high Z targets.