“X-RAY INTERACTION

WITH MATTER”
 FIVE X-RAY INTERACTION
WITH MATTER

1. Coherent Scattering
2. Compton scattering
3. Photoelectric effect
4. Pair production
5. Photodisintegration*
 1. COHERENT SCATTERING
•<10 keV
•Sometimes called Classical or
Thompson scattering
•J.J. Thompson described the
coherent scattering of an x-ray
with an electron.
•In coherent scattering, the
incident x-ray interacts with the
target atom, causing it to become
excited
 Scattered
photon

Incident
photon
•The target atom immediately
released this excess energy as a
scattered x-ray with wavelength
equal to that of the incident x-ray
(λ=λ’), and therefore equal energy.
•The x-ray loses no energy but
changes direction slightly.
•Produces scatter as a result of
vibration of orbital electrons
(excitation)
•The direction of the scattered x-
ray is different from that of the
incident x-ray.
•There is no energy transfer,
therefore no ionization
•Coherent scattering is of little
importance to diagnostic
radiology
•Contribute slightly to film fog.
 2. COMPTON EFFECT/ COMPTON
SCATTERING
•Diagnostic range
•Outer-shell electron (loosely
bound electron)
•The incident x-ray interacts with
an outer-shell electron and ejects
it from the atom. The ejected
electron is called a Compton
electron or a Secondary electron
(recoil)
COMPTON SCATTERING

Scattered Photon
Incident photon

Compton Electron
•These primarily involves loosely
bound outer-shell electrons.
•Produces scatter radiation that
exits the patient and may fog the
radiograph
•These photon-tissue
interactions necessitates the use
of a grid
•Result in occupational exposure
for a radiographer
Compton effect:
Ei = Es + (Eb + EKE)
Where:
Ei = energy of the incident x-
ray
Es = energy of the scattered
x-ray
Eb = electron binding energy
EKE= kinetic energy of the e-
•During a Compton interaction,
most of the energy is divided
between the scattered x-ray
and the Compton electron.
•The probability of the
Compton Effect is inversely
proportional to energy (1/E)
and independent of atomic
number.
•Compton scattering reduces
contrast in an x-ray image.
•Compton-scattered x-ray can
be deflected in any direction.
As the angle of deflection
increases, more energy is
transferred to the Compton
electron (recoil).
 3. PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
•Diagnostic range
•Inner-shell electron (tightly
bound electron; k-shell)
•The electron removed from
the atom, called a
photoelectron
•Photoelectric effect is total x-
ray absorption.
 PHOTOELECTRIC
Characteristic
EFFECT radiation

Auger electron

Incident photon

Photoelectron
•These results in total
absorption of an incident x-
ray photons
•These is responsible for
producing contrast on the
radiograph
•Photon-tissue interactions
primarily involves K-shell
electrons
Photoelectric effect:
Ei = Eb + EKE
Where:
Ei = energy of the incident
x-ray
Eb = electron binding
energy
EKE = kinetic energy of the
e-
•Characteristic x-rays are produced
after a photoelectric interaction.
•The ejection of k-shell
photoelectron by the incident x-
rays result in a vacancy in the k-
shell. This unnatural state is
immediately corrected when an
outer-shell electron, usually from
the L-shell, drops into the vacancy.
•These characteristic x-rays
are secondary radiation
and behave in the same
manner as scattered
radiation.
 4. PAIR PRODUCTION
•>1.02 MeV
•0.51 mEv mass of an
electron
•Pair production does not
occur during x-ray imaging.
PAIR PRODUCTION

e-
electron

positron

Incident photon
e+
The interaction between the x-
ray and the nuclear electric field
causes the x-ray to disappear,
and it its place two electrons
appear, one positively charged
(positron) and one negatively
charged.
•These involves interaction
between an incident photon and
an atomic nucleus
•Positron emission tomography
(PET)
•The electron resulting from the
ion pair production eventually
fills a vacancy in an atomic
orbital shell. The positron unites
with a free electron and the mass
of both particles is converted to
energy in a process called
annihilation radiation.
 5. PHOTODISINTEGRATION
•> 10 MeV
•Photodisintegration does not occur in
diagnostic radiology
•X-rays with energy above
approximately 10 MeV can escape
interaction with electrons and the
nuclear electric field and be absorbed
directly by the nucleus, when this
happen, the nucleus is raised to an
excited state and instantly emits a
nucleons or other nuclear fragment.
Photodisintegration

Scattered
photon

Incident photon
 Of the 5 ways an x-ray
can interact with tissue,
only 2 are important in
Radiology:
THE COMPTON AND
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT.
 DIFFERENTIAL
ABSORPTION
•Differential absorption
occurs because of
Compton scattering,
photoelectric effect and x-
rays transmitted through
the patient.
Three types of x-rays are
important to the making of a
radiograph:
• Those scattered by Compton
interaction (image fog)
• Those absorbed
Photoelectrically (radiopaque)
• Those transmitted through the
patient without interaction
(radiolucent)
 Differential absorption
increase as the kVp is
reduced; unfortunately,
reducing the kVp to increase
differential absorption and
therefore image contrast
results in increase patient
dose.
Characteristics of Differential
Absorption:
As x-ray energy increases Fewer Compton interaction
Many photoelectric interactions
More transmission through tissue
As tissue atomic number No change in Compton interactions
increases
Many more photoelectric interactions
Less x-ray transmission
As tissue mass density increases Proportional increase in Compton
interaction
Proportional increase in photoelectric
interaction
Proportional reduction in x-ray
transmission
EXPONENTIAL ATTENUATION

•The total reduction in the