Diagnostic x-ray spectra: a comparison of spectra generated by different computational methods with a measured spectrum.

A number of computer codes, developed using semi-empirical models, are available to compute x-ray spectra from a tungsten target for different tube parameters. In this study x-ray spectra measured with a high-purity germanium detector are compared with those computed using the empirical models and previously published measured data. The computer codes used to generate the spectra are based on models proposed by Birch et al. and Tucker et al. The measured x-ray spectra agreed well with the computed x-ray spectra using the model of Tucker et al. whereas the model of Birch et al. produced a "harder" x-ray spectrum compared to the measured spectra. Our measured x-ray spectra compared well with the previously published measured spectral data of Fewell et al.