Final answer:
Bremsstrahlung is the production of X-rays through the deceleration of high-energy electrons in an X-ray tube, resulting in a broad spectrum of radiation with possible characteristic peaks specific to the anode material.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term bremsstrahlung refers to 'braking radiation' in German and describes the production of X-rays as a result of deceleration of high-energy electrons. When these electrons, accelerated by an electric field, collide with the anode material in an X-ray tube, they slow down rapidly, emitting radiation in the process. This deceleration of electrons produces a spectrum of X-ray energies, which typically includes a broad curve of continuous energy values, indicative of the diverse interactions between the electrons and the target atoms. Additionally, there can also be characteristic X-ray peaks superimposed on this curve, which are specific to the anode material due to atomic excitations. The maximum energy of the X-rays that can be produced is determined by the equation Emax = hfmax = de V, where 'E' stands for energy, 'h' is Planck's constant, 'f' represents frequency, and 'V' is the accelerating voltage.