central ray

central ray (CR),

the portion of an x-ray beam that is directed toward the center of the film or of the object being radiographed.

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ray(s),

n a line of light, heat, or other form of radiant energy. A ray is a more or less distinct or isolated portion of radiant energy, whereas the word
rays is a very general term for any form of radiant energy, whether vibratory or particulate.

ray, alpha,

n See particle, alpha.

ray, beta,

n See particle, beta.

ray, cathode,

n See electron stream.

ray, central,

n the center of a radiographic beam.

ray, cosmic,

n radiation that originates outside the earth's atmosphere. Cosmic rays have extremely short wavelengths. They are able to produce ionization as they pass through the air and other matter and are capable of penetrating many feet of material such as lead and rock. The primary cosmic rays probably consist of atomic nuclei (mainly protons), some of which may have energies of the order of 1010 to 1015 eV. Secondary cosmic rays are produced when the primary cosmic rays interact with nuclei and electrons (e.g., in the earth's atmosphere). Secondary cosmic rays consist mainly of mesons, protons, neutrons, electrons, and photons that have less energy than the primary rays. Practically all the primary cosmic rays are absorbed in the upper atmosphere. Almost all cosmic radiation observed at the earth's surface is of the secondary type.

ray, gamma,

n photons with a shorter wavelength than those ordinarily used in diagnostic medical and dental radiography and that originate in the nuclei of atoms. A quantum of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a nucleus as a result of a quantum transition between two energy levels of the nucleus; e.g., as a radioisotope decays, it gives off energy, some of which may be in the form of gamma radiation.

ray, grenz

n roentgen rays that are greater in length than 1 Å; used in radiography of soft tissues, insects, flowers, and microscopic sections of teeth and surrounding tissues. These rays are the result of using approximately 10 to 20 kV in a specially constructed radiation-generating device. They have a wavelength of about 2 Å.

ray, neutron,

n particulate ionizing radiation consisting of neutrons. On impact with nuclei or atoms, neutrons possess enough kinetic energy to set the nuclei or atoms in motion with sufficient velocity to ionize matter or enter into nuclear reactions that result in the emission of ionizing radiation. The former variety is usually called the fast neutron, and the latter the thermoneutron, with gradations of epithermal and slow neutrons between them.

ray, roentgen (r)

n an international unit based on the ability of radiation to ionize air. The exposure to x- or gamma radiation such that the associated corpuscular emission per 0.001293 g of air produces, in air, ions carrying 1 esu of quantity of electricity of either sign (2.083 billion ion pairs).

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central ray

the center of the area of radiation created as the x-ray beam diverges. The further from the center of the ray one is, the more distortion there is and, if the beam is not correctly centered over the part to be viewed, there will be more distortion still. The central point is the point of minimum distortion.