hard X ray

Hard X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths typically ranging from 0.01 to 1 angstrom, corresponding to photon energies between 10 keV and 100 keV. They are produced when high-energy electrons strike a metal target, causing them to decelerate rapidly (bremsstrahlung) or through synchrotron radiation from relativistic electrons in circular orbits.12

Unlike charged particles, X-rays are uncharged and interact with matter less frequently. When they do interact, it's often through processes like pair production (above 1.02 MeV), Compton scattering, or the photoelectric effect, where the photon's energy is transferred to electrons. These interactions are crucial for X-ray detection and form the basis of various applications, including medical imaging and crystallography.342