Field characteristics of geometric unsharpness due to the x-ray tube focal spot.

The basic theory of field characteristics is discussed. It is shown that the point spread function and optical transfer function (OTF) of geometric unsharpness at any arbitrary field position can be derived from those at the central beam position. At all locations in the radiation field, the OTF in a direction parallel to the x-ray tube cathode-target axis does not depend on the field position X, which is perpendicular to the tube axis, whereas the OTF in a perpendicular direction does not depend on the field position Y, which is parallel to the tube axis. The theoretical result is used to demonstrate the field characteristic of the uniform, square focal spot.