INTERACTIONS OF IONIZING

RADIATION
IONIZATION

It is a process by which a Neutral atom acquires positive or

negative charge

Ionizing radiations can strip electrons from atoms as they

travel through them
PHOTON BEAM ATTENUATION
Half value layer

Thickness of an absorber required to attenuate

the intensity of the beam to half its original
value.
The absorber or filter
preferentially removes the
lower-energy photons.

The average energy of the

transmitted beam increases

By increasing the filtration

in such an x-ray beam, one
increases the penetrating
power or the HVL of the
beam
INTERACTIONS OF PHOTONS WITH
MATTER

Attenuation of photon beam by absorbing material is caused by 5

interactions

1.PHOTODISINTEGRATION

2.COHERENT SCATTERING

3.PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

4.COMPTON EFFECT
PHOTODISINTEGRATION

Interaction of High-energy photon with an atomic nucleus can lead to

a nuclear reaction and to the emission of one or more nucleons.

In most cases, this process of photodisintegration results in the

emission of neutrons by the nuclei.

Threshold - 10.86 MeV.

Photodisintegration process is used as a basis for energy calibration of

machines producing high-energy photons.
COHERENT SCATTERING

aka CLASSICAL SCATTERING/ RAYLEIGH

SCATTERING
EMW pass near an e- and oscillates the e-

e- reradiates energy in the SAME frequency as

incident EMW

1.No energy to e- motion

2.No energy is absorbed in medium
3.High atomic no. & low energy Photons
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
All of the Photons energy is absorbed by atom and transferred to e- &
it is ejected.

Vacancy created by this e- is filled by outer orbital and give off some
energy

1.Emission of characteristic Xray

2. Another e- in higher shell, which is ejected as Auger e-

Angular distribution of e- emitted depends on photon energy

Low energy photons – e- in 90o
As energy increases , e- emitted more forward
COMPTON EFFECT
Barrier wall thickness

Energy of photons scatted by patient under treatment at 90° ie

when = 90°
Similarly if = 180°, hv´ = 0.255MeV
Radiation scatted at 90° and 180° is
independent of incident energy
PAIR PRODUCTION

Energy of photon > 1.02 MeV

Photon interacts with EMF of nucleus and gives all of its

energy to form a pair consisting

Negative e-
Positive e+ aka Positron

Rest mass energy of Electron is 0.51 MeV

Excess energy converted into kinetic energy of e- & e+
ANNIHILATION RADIATION
As Pair production depends on EMF it is independent on atomic no.

 Until 20 MeV
 Above this higher
atomic no. elements
EMF is shielded by e-