We have just passed the 125th anniversary of Wilhelm Röntgen’s discovery of X-rays in 1895, a discovery that was honored with the first Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to Röntgen in 1901. Surprisingly, the X-ray generator is today the longest-lived component still based on vacuum tube technology, despite the continuous progress of X-ray applications in science, medicine and testing.
This book is an application-oriented text that covers, in 10 chapters, virtually all the aspects of X-ray techniques, including the latest developed CT (computed tomography) and novel X-ray sources. The first chapter is a 50-page historical survey that includes an account of the stages of technical evolution. It is followed by three chapters on the basics of X-ray generation and of interaction of X-rays with matter.
Imaging modalities and CT with applications to medicine follow in 70 pages. Three more chapters cover the details of X-ray tube construction, tube housing, high voltage power supply and important manufacturing issues. The last chapter is devoted to new perspectives in the fabrication of X-ray devices. Backed by well-chosen illustrations and by problems at the end of each chapter, the book is an invaluable guide to X-rays for physicists and engineers.
Review by Silvano Donati, University of Pavia, Italy.
The opinions expressed in the book review section are those of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect those of OPN or its publisher, Optica (formerly OSA).