First complete characterization of an X-Ray tube through combined measurements and Geant4 simulations

X-ray tubes are sources of X-rays used in various fields, ranging from radiographic imaging in medical physics to the characterization of detectors in particle physics. This article presents a method for the complete characterization of the Mini-X2 X-Ray tube from AMETEK, an X-ray source later used to characterize gas detectors in laboratory. Using data provided by the manual, we derive key operational parameters of the tube, such as the photon emission rate and the relationship between emissive power and supplied current. Based on this characterization, we determine the air dose rate as well as the absorbed dose rate within a given volume at various distances from the source. We derive this dose experimentally, theoretically and through simulations and find good agreement between these. To enable safe operation in a laboratory environment and to support experimental comparisons, a shielding system was developed. Finally, it will be illustrated how the shielding containing the Mini-X2 has been designed, exploiting the simulation power of the Geant4 software.