X-ray photon

X-ray photons are packets of electromagnetic energy in the X-ray wavelength range (approximately 0.01–10 nanometers). They are produced by energy transitions in atoms, most commonly through interactions with a target material in an X-ray tube, via mechanisms such as Bremsstrahlung or characteristic emission. Biologically, X-ray photons interact with tissue, inducing ionization and generating free radicals, which can damage biomolecules such as DNA, proteins, and enzymes, either directly or indirectly through radiolysis of water. This mechanism underlies both their imaging utility and their therapeutic applications in radiation oncology, but also accounts for their safety risks, including mutagenesis, tissue injury, and increased cancer risk. X-ray photons are not considered a conventional drug target in pharmacology or molecular biology.

Other names

X-rayX-radiationX-ray quantaX-ray particle