> ) Roane Interactions with Matter There are several different types of interactions that occur within the matter of a patient. There are different variables that go into creating an image. Attenuation has a major effect. This is the term that describes the x-ray beams reduction in intensity as it passes through the patient or object. Absorption of the photons is also a way to look at it. When an incident photon passes through the patient with no interaction this is known as transmission. The radiation that ends up passing through the patient and exiting is known as transmitted and scattered radiation. ‘There are different interactions that occur with different levels of energy. The 3 main interactions are coherent, photoelectric, and Compton. Coherent Interaction '* This is a low level energy interaction. This interacts with the atom as either a whole or the outer shell. There are many different names but two that are listed are Thompson, which interacts with a single outer shell, and Rayleigh which will interact with the atom as a whole. The energy of in the incident photon isn’t high enough to knock an electron \nciden+ Photon gcartere Photon, Photoelectric Interaction ‘¢ This interaction occurs with a moderate energy level. This interaction occurs within the inner shells of an atom. The energy of the incident photon has to be equal to or greater than the electron within the inner shell. An ion pair will be made, this will occur when the inner electron is ejected and will be known as a photoelectron. With a vacancy there, this will start the cascade effect in order to return the atom to a stabilized state. ‘There are characteristics that will dictate this interaction and how much it will increase and decrease. The technique chosen is one contributing factor. The more the photons the more of the chance for them to be absorbed which is ultimately the mAs. If the mAs is increased the photoelectric absorption will be increased. If the kVp is increased and mAs is lowered, then less absorption will occur because the energy of the photons is too high. Another characteristic is the atomic number of which the photons are interacting