Effect of electron energy distribution on bremsstrahlung spectrum

We calculated bremsstrahlung spectra using the Monte Carlo method taking into consideration electron energy distribution and multiple scattering in a target, which were neglected in the semiempirical models of Birch and Marshall (BM) and Tucker et al. (TBC). We compared our results with the spectra measured by Fewell et al. and those calculated by BM- and TBC-models, and discussed the effects of the electron energy distribution on the bremsstrahlung spectra. Our results agreed with the spectra measured by Fewell et al., for a variety of radiographic conditions used in medical diagnosis. Spectra calculated using the BM model agreed roughly with measured data, but tended to deviate as target angle decreased. Spectra calculated using the TBC model agreed with measured data for an X-ray tube with the target angle of 10 degree , but disagreed for other X-ray tubes. As a result, we showed that electron energy distribution had significant effects on the calculation of bremsstrahlung spectra for medical use.