What is attenuation?
Reduction in the number or intensity of x-rays as a result of absorption and scattering
Differences in attenuation cause subject contrast
Can x-rays be transmitted without any interaction?
yes
What can x-rays interact with?
X-rays interact with the nucleus of an atom at _____ _____ energies
very high energies
What are the five interactions between x-rays and matter
What is secondary radiation?
Radiation produced using the patient’s atoms
What is off-focus radiation?
Radiation produced off the focal spot of the x-ray tube
What is photoelectric absorption?
What gives us those white areas in our image
When is an ion pair formed, and in what interaction?
An ion pair is formed when an electron is ejected from the atom in photoelectric absorption
When is photoelectric absorption most likely to occur?
Most likely to occur when x-ray photon has just slightly more energy than Eb of a K or L-shell electron
[*] Photoelectrons are related to what interaction?
Photoelectric absorption
Photoelectron energy can be determined with what equation ?
Ei = Eb + Eke
Ei = energy of the incident photon
Eb = binding energy of the electron
Eke = kinetic energy of the photoelectron
[*] Recoil electrons are related to what interaction?
Compton scatter
What are the three characteristics of a photoelectron?
• Kinetic energy (Eke)
• Mass
• Reabsorbs quickly
- Within 1-2mm of tissue
Three steps to characteristic cascade?
What interaction?
• Emits characteristic photon
– (secondary radiation)
• Photoelectric
What is secondary radiation?
• When do characteristic photons emit?
Radiation that originates from irradiated material outside of x-ray tube (from the patient’s atoms)
• Characteristic photons emitted from atoms of patient after PE absorption interaction has occurred
_____ of resulting x-ray is dependent on the atomic (Z#) of the material.
Low Z# in tissue = _____ energy secondary radiation
Higher Z# with contrast agents = _____ energy secondary radiation
Energy of resulting x-ray is dependent on the atomic (Z#) of the material.
Low Z# in tissue = low energy secondary radiation
Higher Z# with contrast agents = higher energy secondary radiation
Photoelectric Absorption Condition #1
Incident photon energy (Ei) must be _____ than or _____ to binding energy (Eb) of inner-shell electron
Incident photon energy (Ei) must be greater than or equal to binding energy (Eb) of inner-shell electron
Photoelectric Absorption Condition #2
PE absorption interaction is more likely to occur if:
• Incident photon energy (Ei) and inner-shell electron binding energy (Eb) are _____ to each other
[*] As photon energy increases, chance of PE interaction _____ _____
– _____ _____ relationship (1/E^3)
PE absorption interaction is more likely to occur if:
• Incident photon energy (Ei) and inner-shell electron binding energy (Eb) are close to each other
[*] As photon energy increases, chance of PE interaction decreases dramatically
– Inverse cubed relationship (1/E^3)
Example: 1 / 2^3 = 8
If you double your energy, the probability of absorption goes down to 1/8
Photoelectric Absorption Condition #3
• Increased Z# has a dramatic impact on the amount of PE absorption, with a _____ _____ relationship
• Double Z#
Increase chance of PE absorption interaction by a factor of __.
Kerry: Denser things, things that have higher binding energies are most likely to absorb more
PP: PE absorption interaction is more likely to occur in elements with a higher Z#, and therefore higher binding energy (Eb) of inner-shell electrons
• Increased Z# has a dramatic impact on the amount of PE absorption
– Direct cubed relationship (Z^3)
• Double Z#
Increase chance of PE absorption interaction by a factor of 8.
PE absorption is most influenced by:
A. Subject volume
B. Subject thickness
C. Subject mass density
D. Subject atomic #
D. Subject atomic #
because atomic number is cubed and mass density is proportional
What is Coherent scatter
Electrons are excited and vibrate at photon frequency (momentarily bound to orbital electron which excites the atom and is reemitted)
• less than 5% Slightly
What is Compton scatter?
Incident photon (Ei) interacts with outer-shell, loosely bound electron and ejects it
What is the equation for Compton scatter?
Ei = Es + Eb + Eke
Incident photon energy (Ei) is distributed between recoil electron (Eke) and scattered photon (Es)
Energy transferred to recoil electron (Eke) affects angle and energy of scattered photon (Es)