In an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, for acquiring the cross-section, position and/or alignment, relative to a target, of an electron beam generated by an electron generating system, at least one conductor is provided in the region of the target so that a signal can be derived by the conductor under the influence of the electron beam and supplied to an evaluation stage. The conductor is composed of a material having an atomic number lower than that of tungsten, so that no undesirable radiation arises due to the interaction of the electrons with this conductor.