Monte Carlo simulation codes that model particle interactions with matter, including GEANT4, can be used to support the development of novel X-ray tubes and instruments for applications in industry and research. Based on our knowledge, simulations of the output of transmission-geometry X-ray tubes have not yet been conducted in GEANT4. Simulations of reflection-geometry tubes are scarce, with a limited number of studies investigating the capability and accuracy of GEANT4 in this domain. Therefore, the aim of this work is to benchmark GEANT4 for the characterisation of X-ray tubes with industry applications, using for the first time a range of X-ray tubes geometries and high voltages. In this work, GEANT4 is benchmarked against experimental measurements performed at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia, with both transmission and reflection X-ray tubes. High voltages between 17 kV and 42.5 kV for tungsten, molybdenum, gold, and silver targets are investigated. The measurements have been performed with a MXR packaged X-ray tube (reflection) and Magnum X-ray tubes (transmission) and a fast silicon drift detector (SDD). Our study shows that GEANT4 predicts the bremsstrahlung continuum output of transmission and reflection X-ray tubes, in agreement with the experimental measurements. The physics models, distributed with GEANT4, and the GEANT4 X-ray fluorescence data libraries based on the Hartree-Fock approach, exhibit the best agreement against experimental measurements. Depending on the high voltage, target and X-ray line agreement was found to vary between 10% and 300%. Differences between GEANT4 and experimental data are more significant for lower voltage X-ray tube measurements and are most likely due to limitations in the ionisation electron cross-section and/or atomic relaxation data libraries used. As next steps, it is recommended to validate GEANT4 against other, independent experimental measurements to corroborate the results of this work. In addition, it would be useful to repeat the same study with other general purpose Monte Carlo codes for radiation physics to compare their capability against GEANT4 in this application domain.

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比较测量的 X 射线管和 GEANT4 模拟的 X 射线管的输出

模拟粒子与物质相互作用的蒙特卡罗模拟代码（包括 GEANT4）可用于支持新型 X 射线管和仪器的开发，用于工业和研究应用。据我们所知，GEANT4 尚未对透射几何 X 射线管的输出进行模拟。反射几何管的模拟很少，调查 GEANT4 在该领域的能力和准确性的研究数量有限。因此，这项工作的目的是首次使用一系列 X 射线管几何形状和高电压，对 GEANT4 进行基准测试，以表征 X 射线管与行业应用。在这项工作中，GEANT4 以澳大利亚联邦科学与工业研究组织 (CSIRO) 使用透射和反射 X 射线管进行的实验测量为基准。研究了钨、钼、金和银靶材的 17 kV 至 42.5 kV 高压。测量是使用 MXR 封装 X 射线管（反射）、Magnum X 射线管（透射）以及快速硅漂移探测器 (SDD) 进行的。我们的研究表明，GEANT4 预测了透射和反射 X 射线管的轫致辐射连续谱输出，与实验测量结果一致。与 GEANT4 一起分发的物理模型以及基于 Hartree-Fock 方法的 GEANT4 X 射线荧光数据库表现出与实验测量的最佳一致性。根据高电压的不同，目标和 X 射线线的一致性被发现在 10% 到 300% 之间变化。 GEANT4 和实验数据之间的差异对于较低电压的 X 射线管测量更为显着，并且很可能是由于所使用的电离电子截面和/或原子弛豫数据库的限制。作为下一步，建议根据其他独立的实验测量来验证 GEANT4，以证实这项工作的结果。此外，使用辐射物理的其他通用蒙特卡罗代码重复相同的研究，以比较它们在该应用领域中与 GEANT4 的能力，将是有用的。