X-ray X rays are produced in a highly evacuated glass bulb, called an X-ray tube, that contains essentially two electrodes, an anode made of platinum, tungsten, or another heavy metal of high melting point, and a cathode. When a high voltage is applied between the electrodes streams of electrons(cathode rays)are accelerated from the cathode to the anode and produce X rays as they strike the anodeX-ray X rays are produced in a highly evacuated glass bulb, called an X-ray tube, that contains essentially two electrodes, an anode made of platinum, tungsten, or another heavy metal of high melting point, and a cathode. When a high voltage is applied between the electrodes, streams of electrons (cathode rays) are accelerated from the cathode to the anode and produce X rays as they strike the anode