Monochromatic x-ray radiation for high resolution radiography in osteology.

The contrast of an x-ray exposure is influenced by the x-ray absorption of the examined material and the x-ray frequency. The examination of the absorbing properties of bone material in the molybdenum spectrum by means of the Bragg-method revealed an intense increase of absorption in the long-wave range. By using a zirconium filter, long-wave and monochromatic MoK alpha-rays can be isolated from the spectrum of a molybdenum x-ray tube. The x-ray exposures of thin bone tissue produced in this spectral range show a much greater degree of contrast and depth as compared to conventional exposures.