Does the X-ray tube assembly belong to a radiation source

Does the X-ray tube assembly belong to a radioactive source? The answer is negative.

The X-ray tube assembly is a component that combines an X-ray tube with some peripheral parts. The peripheral parts usually have a lead cylinder that shields radiation, and if it is a rotating anode, there will also be a stator for the rotating anode, a high-voltage cable interface, insulation oil, an expander that prevents excessive pressure caused by temperature changes and oil volume changes, and a sealed metal shell. At this point, the X-ray tube assembly is not a complete X-ray source and cannot emit X-rays.

So, what is a radioactive source?

Radioactive source is a general term for radiation sources made from radioactive materials. Radioactive sources are generally indicated by the activity of the radioactive nuclide they produce, and their strength can also be indicated by the emissivity or fluence rate of the radiation.

Traditionally, high activity or high radiation emissivity radiation sources used in non-destructive testing, radiation therapy, and radiation processing are referred to as radiation sources.

From a safety perspective, radiation sources emit radiation at all times, and if shielding and safety protection are not done properly, it can cause significant harm to users.

The X-ray tube assembly is equipped with a high-voltage power supply and related controller, which is the X-ray source assembly. Externally, only the control interface and power supply are needed to generate X-rays.

So, X-ray tube components do not belong to the radiation source.