Scribd
Upload
122 views3 pages

5 Xray Interaction With Matter

The document describes 5 types of interactions that can occur between x-rays and matter: 1) Coherent interaction occurs at low energies and changes the direction but not energy of x-rays. 2) Compton scattering occurs at moderate energies and changes the direction and reduces the energy of x-rays, also ejecting an electron. 3) The photoelectric effect occurs at moderate energies and results in total absorption of x-rays and emission of an electron. 4) Pair production requires very high energies and converts x-ray energy into an electron-positron pair. 5) Photodisintegration requires extremely high energies and causes emission of nuclear particles from target nuclei.

Uploaded by

Caution Caution
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
122 views3 pages

5 Xray Interaction With Matter

The document describes 5 types of interactions that can occur between x-rays and matter: 1) Coherent interaction occurs at low energies and changes the direction but not energy of x-rays. 2) Compton scattering occurs at moderate energies and changes the direction and reduces the energy of x-rays, also ejecting an electron. 3) The photoelectric effect occurs at moderate energies and results in total absorption of x-rays and emission of an electron. 4) Pair production requires very high energies and converts x-ray energy into an electron-positron pair. 5) Photodisintegration requires extremely high energies and causes emission of nuclear particles from target nuclei.

Uploaded by

Caution Caution
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

1.

Coherent or Classical Interaction

Occurs:

 Less than 10 keV


 when the incident x-ray interacts with a target atom, causing it to be excited
 the target atom releases this excess energy as a scattered x-ray with wavelength equal to that of the
incident x-ray
 the direction of the scattered x-ray is different from that of the incident x-ray

Result:

 a change in direction of the x-ray without a change in its energy

"There no ionization, because there is no energy transfer"

Two Types of Coherent Scattering:

a. Rayleigh Scattering – involves all the electrons of the atom in the interaction.

b. Thomson Scattering – involves a single electron of the atom in the interaction

2. Compton Effect/Compton Interaction

Occurs:

 30-150 keV
 when x-rays undergo an interaction with outer shell electrons that not only scatters the x-ray but
reduces its energy and ionizes the atom
 Most likely to occur with outer shell electrons or with loosely bound electrons
 the ejected electron that is ejected from the atom during Compton scatter called the Compton electron
 In Compton scatter, the x-ray continues in a different direction with less energy

Result:

 Scattered x-ray – the major process that produces scatter radiation is the Compton scattering.
 Compton electron – the product; the ionized electron.
 Change in direction
 Change in energy, frequency and wavelength – the energy of the incident x-ray is lessened resulting to
longer wavelength of scatter radiation.
3. Photoelectric Effect/ Photoelectric Interaction

Occurs:

 40-70 keV
 when an incident x-ray photon interacts with a tightly bound electron (or inner shell electron; opposite
of Compton Scattering).
 Involves ionization of electron
 When the electron is ionized, there will be no scatter radiation. Because photoelectric effect happens
when the energy of the incident x-ray is equal or higher than the electron binding energy. (Scatter
radiation only happens if there is the incident x-ray has excess energy after the interaction.)

Results:

 No scattered x-ray – because there is no excess energy.


 Photoelectron - the ionized electron in the inner shell.
 Total x-ray absorption – due to no scatter radiation. Higher patient dose.
 Secondary x-rays – there will be characteristic x-rays due to filling in of electrons in the inner shell.
There are two characteristic x-rays: (1) occur in the target, (2) occur in the patient due to photoelectric
effect.

4. Pair Production

Occurs:

 Greater than or equal to 1.02 MeV


 only with very high energy photons of 1.02 MeV or greater
 (Diagnostic range: 30-50 kev)
 Incident x-ray photon interacts with the nucleus of the tissue atom
 The incident x-ray then will disappear in the atom. The energy that disappeared will decay into
particles: Positron (positive electron) and Negatron (negative electron). It is called Pair Production
because it produces pair electrons with opposite charges.

Result: Does not occur in radiography (due to high energy level requirement)

 Incident photon disappears (due to total x-ray absorption)


 incident photon is converted to matter (pair electrons)
 Annihilation Reaction
 Two x-ray photons (0.51 & 0.51)

5. Photodisintegration

Occurs:

 Greater than 10 MeV


 only with extremely high energy photons above 10 MeV
 Incident x-ray photon interacts with the nucleus of the tissue atom
 Incident x-ray excites the nucleus. Once the nucleus excites and will be back into its orientation, it will
emit a particle known as Nuclear Particle (can be neutron, proton, or alpha particle).

Result:

 Does not occur in radiography (due to high energy level requirement)


 Incident photon disappears
 Nuclear Excitation
 Emission of Nuclear Particle

INTERACTION ENERGY OCCUR AT INTERACTION RESULTS


WITH
Coherent Low Less than 10 Whole atom Change in x-ray
keV direction;
No change in x-ray
energy

Compton Moderate 30-150 keV Outer shell Change in x-ray


electron direction;
Reduced in x-ray
energy;
Compton electron
emitted

Photoelectric Moderate 40-70 keV Inner shell X-ray disappear;


electron Photoelectron emitted
Pair production High Greater than Nucleus X-ray disappear;
or equal to Two electrons with
1.02 MeV opposite charge appear

Photodisintegration High Greater than Nucleus X-ray absorbed in the


10 MeV nucleus;
Nuclear fragment
emitted

You might also like