Reconstruction of bremsstrahlung spectra from attenuation data using generalized simulated annealing

•X-ray spectra reconstruction from attenuation data using generalized simulated annealing.•Algorithm employs a smoothing regularization function, and sets the initial acceptance and visitation temperatures.•Algorithmic is automated by standardizing the terms of the objective function.•Algorithm is compared with classical methods.

A generalized simulated annealing algorithm, combined with a suitable smoothing regularization function is used to solve the inverse problem of X-ray spectrum reconstruction from attenuation data. The approach is to set the initial acceptance and visitation temperatures and to standardize the terms of objective function to automate the algorithm to accommodate different spectra ranges. Experiments with both numerical and measured attenuation data are presented. Results show that the algorithm reconstructs spectra shapes accurately. It should be noted that in this algorithm, the regularization function was formulated to guarantee a smooth spectrum, thus, the presented technique does not apply to X-ray spectrum where characteristic radiation are present.