Physics of X-ray generation in high-voltage devices

Summary form only given as follows. X-rays are widely used in medical diagnostics as well as material sciences and engineering. Dedicated devices have been developed for the generation of this useful radiation. Nevertheless lots of other devices emit x-rays as an unwanted radiation, which has to be shielded to avoid harmful danger to users or others. Especially every high voltage device is a candidate for the emission of x-rays. An overview of the basic physics of x-ray generation is given in the talk. Subsequently the parameter ranges with respect to energy and intensity of the emitted x-rays are discussed. The use and the shielding of the x-rays is then illustrated with tube designs of various kinds of x-ray sources ending up in a discussion of the necessity of x-ray shielding in vacuum circuit breaker design.