X – rays are used for a wide variety of purposes. The production of x – rays uses el;ectrons accelerated through a high voltage hitting a target. When this happens. X – rays are emitted. The instrument producing x – rays is called an x – ray tube. One is shown below.
A great deal of heat is produced in the anode by the production of x – rays, so the anode needs to be cooled. X – rays are produced in all directions, so for safety reasons the machine is encased in lead, with a beam of x – rays passing through a window where they can be used for some purpose.