Handbook of mammographic x-ray spectra. Final report

The handbook is a compendium of experimentally acquired and corrected x-ray spectra obtained from three conventional mammographic x-ray tubes (tungsten, molybdenum-tungsten, and molybdenum targets) and from a special purpose tube often used for mammography (RSI tungsten anode). The experimental data are divided into five parts. The first section presents graphical displays of exposure data (mR/mAs at 1 meter) that correspond to experimental spectra. The second section describes and compares parameters of 30 kVp x-ray beams produced by the anode material types used in mammographic tubes. The third section describes the data format used for displaying the graphical overlays and for the numerical tabulation of x-ray spectra. In the fourth section specifically selected spectral overlays are used to (1) compare the energy content of x-ray beams produced by different anode materials and x-ray systems, (2) illustrate x-ray beam shaping by using K-edge filters, and (3) demonstrate x-ray beam hardening with phantom materials. The last section contains numerical tabulations of x-ray spectra produced by mammographic tubes. While these spectra may not be inclusive they should be representative of a range of mammographic techniques of each tube and system tested. The additional information contained with each tabulation should make it possible for themore » experimenter to simulate each spectrum by measuring the kVp, filtration, and HVL of the x-ray beam.« less