X-ray Interactions

Photon Energy and Momentum

E = hf
P = h/
h = 4.136 x 10-15 eVS (Plancks Constant)
Probability of interactions depends on E

Coherent scattering

AKA: Rayleigh or Classical

Coherent scatter
summary

No energy is transferred
No ionization occurs
In diagnostic radiology < 5% of
interactions are Coherent processes

Photoelectric (inner shell) and

Compton (outer shell) interactions

PE and Compton effects are important in Radiology

Photoelectric effect
Photon energy > K-shell binding energy

Photoelectric Effect summary

Z3
1/E3
(above K-shell binding energy)
No scatter photons
(Any patient characteristic x-rays are
low energy & get absorbed locally)

Compton scatter is in ALL directions, and is approximately

equal intensity in every direction at diagnostic x-ray energies.

Compton scatter summary

Occurs with outer shell electrons
Probability electron density
(electrons/cc)
Probability falls with increasing
photon energy (
1/E)
Produces scatter that
reaches image receptor

Photoelectron/Compton scatter electron fate

~34 eV to produce one electron-ion pair

10 keV electron results in ~300 electron-ion pairs

Attenuation of Radiation

Start with No - number N at depth t is

N = No x e-t
= linear attenuation coefficient (cm-1)
t = absorber thickness (cm)
[ e = base of natural logarithm (~2.7) ]

Fraction that is transmitted is e-t

Fraction that interacts is (1 - e-t)

Attenuation is the sum of Coherent,

Compton and Photoelectric processes

Half Value Layer

HVL reflects Eaverage (i.e. Penetration)

Beam hardening

Adding filters reduces number of photons,

Increases their average energy Eaverage

Most State Regulations Require

HVL > 2.5 mm Al (@ 80 kVp)
If HVL is < 2.5 mm Al
Beam has low energy
photons that irradiate
patient, but dont
contribute to image!
HVL can be increased
by adding filters
(Al, Cu, or Sn)

Eaverage will Contrast (and vice versa)

/ is numerically the same as for

water, because the density is 1 g/cm3

http://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData
/XrayMassCoef/ComTab/water.html