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5 Xray Interactions With Matter

The document describes five types of interactions that can occur between x-ray photons and matter: 1) Coherent scattering involves low-energy photons interacting with whole atoms without ionization; 2) Compton scattering involves moderate-energy photons ejecting outer shell electrons; 3) The photoelectric effect involves high-energy photons ejecting inner shell electrons; 4) Pair production occurs for very high energy photons above 1.02 MeV interacting with the nucleus; 5) Photo disintegration absorbs very high energy photons above 10 MeV directly into the nucleus.

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88 views2 pages

5 Xray Interactions With Matter

The document describes five types of interactions that can occur between x-ray photons and matter: 1) Coherent scattering involves low-energy photons interacting with whole atoms without ionization; 2) Compton scattering involves moderate-energy photons ejecting outer shell electrons; 3) The photoelectric effect involves high-energy photons ejecting inner shell electrons; 4) Pair production occurs for very high energy photons above 1.02 MeV interacting with the nucleus; 5) Photo disintegration absorbs very high energy photons above 10 MeV directly into the nucleus.

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jr2zuzuarregui
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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 Coherent scattering (Thompson scattering, Classical Scattering)- An incident x-ray photon with

approximately 10keV or less interacts with an atom of the target, causing it to become excited. If

the photon interacts with a single valence electron, then the interaction is called Thompson, if the

photon interacts with all the electrons in the atom, then is called Rayleigh. Regardless the result

of the interaction is the same. The atom immediately releases the excess of energy as a scattered

x ray with the wavelength and energy equal to that of the incident x ray. No ionization takes

place. However, the direction of the scattered x-ray is different from that of the incident x-ray

photon.

 Compton Scattering- Incident x-ray photon with moderate energy interacts with a valence

electron of an atom and ejects it. Therefore, ionizing the atom and forming an ion pair. The

photon transfers some of its kinetic energy to the recoil electron and continues on in a different

direction with a reduced energy. The ejected electron becomes a Compton electron. The

Compton electron travels until it fills a vacancy in another atom. The energy of the Compton

scatter X-ray is equal to the difference between the energy of the incident x-ray and the binding

energy of the electron ejected. This interaction is the main source of occupational exposure and

backscatter radiation.

 Photoelectric effect- Incident X-ray that interacts with an atom of the target and transfers all its

energy to a K shell electron, this absorption of energy by the atom results in the ejection of the

electron and the disappearance of the incident x ray. The ejected electron is now called

photoelectron and has an energy equal to the difference between the energy of the incident x ray

and the binding energy of the electron. This is an unstable state for the atom so an electron from

the L-shell jumps to fill the vacancy this interaction starts characteristic cascade causing electrons

to fill inner vacancies emitting weak characteristic X-rays every time an electron fills a vacancy

in a shell. This interaction is responsible for the largest contribution to patient exposure dose.
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 Pair Production- Incident X ray photon with 1.02MeV or above bypasses the electrons shells of

the atom target and interacts with the nuclei’s magnetic field. This causes the incident X-ray

photon to disappear and a pair of electrons with opposite electrostatic charges appear a positron

and a negatron. The negatron eventually loses This interaction does not occur in diagnostic

imaging. However, is more significant in radiation therapy with greater energy photons up to

10Mev.

 Photo disintegration- incident X-ray photon with the energy of 10 MeV or more escapes

interactions with the electron shells and the nuclei magnetic field. Instead, the X-ray photon is

completely absorbed by the nucleus; this causes the nucleus to rise to an excited state. Therefore,

emitting a nucleon or nuclear fragment. This interaction does not occur in diagnostic imaging.

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