Understanding the nature of the x-ray beam is essential for any radiologic technologist aiming to master both the science and the art of imaging. In this second installment on radiation physics, we go beyond the tube and into the beam itself—unpacking how it behaves, what defines its characteristics, and why its properties matter in clinical practice.

Let’s start with two fundamental descriptors of electromagnetic energy: frequency and wavelength.

Frequency and Wavelength: The Invisible Architects of ...