Scribd
Upload
8 views

6

Uploaded by

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

6

Uploaded by

hasnalhrake
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 30

Principles of Diagnostic

Imaging 1
Lecture 6 - X-ray Interactions with Matter
X-ray Interaction with Matter

nElectromagnetic Radiation interacts with structures with similar size


to the wavelength of the radiation.
nInteractions have wavelike and particle like properties.
nX-rays have a very small wavelength, no larger than 10-8 to 10-9.
X-ray Interaction with Matter

nThe higher the energy of the x-ray, the shorter the wavelength.
nLow energy x-rays interact with whole atoms.
nModerate energy x-rays interact with electrons.
nHigh energy x-rays interact with the nuclei.
Five forms of x-ray Interactions

nClassical or Coherent Scattering


nCompton Effect
nPhotoelectric Effect
nPair production
nPhotodisintegration
Two Forms of X-ray Interactions Important to
Diagnostic X-ray

•Compton Effect
•Photoelectric Effect
Classical or Coherent Scattering
• Low energy x-rays of about
10 keV interact in this
manner.
• Incident photon interacts
with the atom.
• There is a change in
direction.
• This occur when an incident
photon is absorbed by an
atom and is then
immediately re-emitted with
the same energy but at
different angle.
Classical or Thompson Scattering
• There is no loss of energy and no ionization.
• Photon scattered forward.
• Because these are low energy x-rays, they are of little
importance.
• At 70 kVp only a few percent of the x-rays undergo this
form of scattering.
• Classic Scatter may contribute to the graying of the
image called film fog.
Compton Effect
• Moderate energy x-ray photons
can interact with outer shell
electron.
• This interaction not only
changes the direction but
reduces its energy and ionizes
the atom. The outer shell
electron is ejected.
Compton scattering
• Occurs when an incident x-ray
photon (Ep) interact with an outer- Compton scatter
shell electron.
Secondary
• Temporally absorption of photon by photon
the electron which causes it to
oscillate.

• A secondary photon with lower Incident


energy (Es) will be emitted with an photon
angle with respect to primary photon
direction

• An electron will also be ejected ( Compton electron


Compton electron) which carries
energy = Ep – Es
Compton scattering
The scatter angle Ф indicates the Secondary
photon

proportion of energy transferred


from the primary x-ray photon to the
Incident
secondary photon. photon

The transferred energy decreases Compton electron

with increasing the scatter angle, The scatter angle


while Compton electron energy
increases.
Compton Effect

nA zero angle deflection will result in no energy loss.


nAs the angle approaches 180 degrees, more energy is transferred to
the secondary electron.
nEven at 180 degrees, 66% of the energy is retained.
Compton Scattering

nThe x-ray continues in an altered direction with decreased energy.


nThe energy of the Compton-scattered x-ray is equal to the difference
between the energy of the incident x-ray and the energy imparted to
the electron.
Compton Scattering

nThe energy imparted to the electron is equal to its binding energy


plus the kinetic with which it leaves the atom.
nDuring Compton-scattering most of the energy is divided between
the scattered photon and the secondary electron.
nThe Secondary Electron is called a Compton Electron.
Compton Scattering

nThe scattered photon


and secondary electron
will retain most of its
energy so it can interact
many times before losing
all of it’s energy.
Compton Effect

nThe scattered photon will ultimately be absorbed photoelectrically.


nThe secondary electron will drop into a hole in the outer shell of an
atom created by an ionizing event.
nCompton-scattered photons can be deflected in any direction.
Compton Effect

nPhotons scattered back towards the incident x-ray beam are called
Backscatter Radiation.
nWhile important in radiation therapy, backscatter in diagnostic x-ray
is sometimes responsible for the hinges on the back of the the
cassette to be seen on the x-ray film
Features of Compton Scattering
• Most likely to occur • With outer-shell electrons
• With loosely bound
electrons.

• As x-ray energy increases • Increased penetration


through tissue w/o
interaction.
• Increased Compton relative
to photoelectric scatter.
• Reduced total Compton
scattering.
Features of Compton Scatter
• As atomic number of the • No effect on Compton
absorber increases Scatter

• As mass density of • Proportional increase in


absorber increases Compton Scatter.
Photoelectric Effect

• X-rays interact with inner shell


electron of the target atom.
• It is not scattered but totally
absorbed.
• The Photoelectric Effect is a
photon absorption interaction.
Photoelectric Effect

nThe electron removed from the target atoms is called a


photoelectron.
nThe photoelectron escapes with kinetic energy equal to the
difference between the energy of the incident x-ray and the binding
energy of the electron.
Photoelectric Effect
nLow atomic number target atoms such as soft tissue have low binding
energies.
nTherefore the photoelectric electron is released with kinetic energy nearly
equal to the incident x-ray.
nHigher atomic number target atoms will have higher binding energies.
nTherefore the kinetic energy of the photoelectron will be proportionally
lower.
Photoelectric Effect

nCharacteristic x-rays are produced following a photoelectric


interaction similar to those produced in the x-ray tube.
nThese characteristic x-rays are also secondary radiation and acts like
scatter.
nThey contribute nothing of diagnostic value.
Photoelectric Effect

nThe probability of a photoelectric interaction is a function of the


photon energy and the atomic number of the target atom.
nA photoelectric interaction can not occur unless the incident x-ray
has energy equal to or greater than the electron binding energy.
Photoelectric Effect

nThe probability of photoelectric interaction is inversely proportional


to the third power of the photon energy.
nThe probability of photoelectric interaction is directly proportional to
the third power of the atomic number of the absorbing material
Photoelectric Effect

nA probability of interaction to the third power changes rapidly.


nFor the photoelectric effect this means that a small variation in
atomic number or x-ray energy results in a large changes in chance of
an interaction.
nThis is unlike Compton interactions.
Effective Atomic Numbers

• Human Tissue • Effective Atomic #


• Muscle • 7.4
• Fat • 6.3
• Bone • 13.8
• Lung • 7.4
• Other Material
• Concrete • 17
• Lead • 82
Features of the Photoelectric Effect
nMost likely to occur nWith inner-shell
electrons
nWith tightly bound
electrons.
nWhen the x-ray energy is
greater than the
electron-binding energy.
Features of the Photoelectric Effect
nAs the x-ray energy nIncreased penetration
increases through tissue without
interaction.
nLess photoelectric effect
relative to Compton
effect.
nReduced absolute
absorption.
Features of the Photoelectric Effect
• As the atomic number of • Increases proportionally
the absorber increases the cube of the Z.

• As mass density of the • Proportional increase in


absorber increases photoelectric effect.
References

• Radiologic Science for Technologists - : Physics, Biology, and Protection.


By Stewart C. Bushong

You might also like