Higher-energy photons might be desirable for the treatment of certain tumors. Which of these actions would generate higher-energy photons in this linear accelerator?

(a) Increasing the number of electrons that hit the tungsten target;

(b) Accelerating the electrons through a higher potential difference;

(c) Both (a) and (b);

(d) None of these.

Malignant tumors are commonly treated with targeted x-ray radiation therapy. To generate these medical x rays, a linear accelerator directs a highenergy beam of electrons toward a metal target—typically tungsten. As they near the tungsten nuclei, the electrons are deflected and accelerated, emitting high-energy photons via bremsstrahlung. The resulting x rays are collimated into a beam that is directed at the tumor. The photons can deposit energy in the tumor through Compton and photoelectric interactions. A typical tumor has 10⁸ cells/cm³, and in a full treatment, 4-MeV photons may produce a dose of 70 Gy in 35 fractional exposures on different days. The gray (Gy) is a measure of the absorbed energy dose of radiation per unit mass of tissue: 1 Gy = 1 J/kg.