What type of radiation accounts for the majority of X-rays produced in an X-ray tube?

The correct answer is braking radiation, also known as bremsstrahlung radiation. In an X-ray tube, when high-speed electrons are accelerated towards a metal target, they can interact with the atomic nuclei of the target material. This interaction causes the electrons to decelerate rapidly or to be "braked," resulting in the emission of X-rays. Bremsstrahlung radiation is produced in this process and accounts for the majority of the X-rays generated in most diagnostic X-ray tubes.

Bremsstrahlung occurs because the kinetic energy of the incoming electrons is converted to electromagnetic energy as they are deflected by the electric field of the target's atomic nuclei. The resulting X-ray photons can have a broad spectrum of energies, depending on the deceleration of the electrons.

In contrast, characteristic radiation, which also contributes to X-ray production, occurs when an inner-shell electron is ejected from the target atom, leading to electron transitions from higher energy levels to fill the vacancy. This process produces photons with specific energy levels corresponding to the difference in energy between the shells involved, but it occurs less frequently compared to bremsstrahlung.

Compton scattering relates to the interaction of X-rays with matter, resulting in a decrease in photon energy and an increase in wavelength