X-ray Interaction with Matter (c) Flashcards
What is the source of x-rays?
an x-ray machine is the source of x-rays
X-ray photons pass from the tube, and some through the patient, to reach what?
x-ray photons pass from the tube, and some through the patient, to reach the image receptor
Interaction with different X alters the number of photons exiting the patient
X - tissues
The variation in numbers of X reaching the image receptor produces the radiographic appearance of different tissues
X - photons
What are the 4 different ways in which x-ray photons may traverse tissue?
x-ray photons may traverse tissue by:
- passing through unaltered
- changing direction with no energy loss
- scatter
- changing diection and losing energy
- scatter and absorption
- being stopped, depositing all energy within tissue
- absorption
What is attentuation?
attenuation is a reduction in number of photons (x-rays) within the beam
What is a reduction in number of photons (x-rays) within the beam known as?
a reduction in the number of photons (x-rays) within the beam is known as attenuation
What does attenuation occur as a result of?
attenuation occurs as a result of absorption and scatter
What occurs as a result of absorption and scatter?
attenuation occurs as a result of absorption and scatter
When all photons reach the image receptor, what will the image appear like?
when all photons reach the image receptor, the image appears black
When there is partial attenuation, what does the image appear like?
when there is partial attenuation, the image appears grey
When there is complete attenuation, what will the image appear like?
when there is complete attenuation, the image will appear white
What is the charge of the nucleus?
the nucleus has a positive charge
What is the atomic number equal to?
the atomci number is equal to the number of protons
What is the mass number equal to?
the mass number is equal to the number of protons + neutrons
Electrons in what shell have the highest binding energy?
electrons in the K shell have the highest binding energy
Outer shells have X binding energies
X - lower
The maximum number of electrons in the orbit is X in outer orbits
X - greater
What are the principle interactions of diagnostic x-rays in tissue?
principle interactions of diagnostic x-rays in tissue:
- photoelectric effect - absorption
- Compton effect - scatter and absorption
In the photoelectric effect, an x-ray photon interacts with an X shell electron
X - inner
In the photoelectric effect, the incoming photon has energy just X than the binding energy of the electron
X - higher
In the photoelectric effect, does the photon reach the image receptor?
no, the photon doesn’t reach the image receptor in the photoelectric effect
In the photoelectric effect, there is complete X
X - absorption
X effect:
- x-ray photon interacts with inner shell electron (usually K shell)
- photon has energy just higher than the binding energy of the electron
- x-ray photon disappears
- most of the photon energy is used to overcome the binding energy of the electron, remainder gives electron kinetic energy
- electron is ejected (photoelectron)
- atom has “hole” in electron shell and is positively charged
- unstable
- electron drops from outer shell, filling the void
- difference in energy between the 2 levels is emitted as light/heat (characteristic radiation)
- outer voids are filled by “free” electrons
- results in complete absorption of photon energy, the photon doesn’t reach the image receptor
X - photoelectric
The X effect results in complete absorption of the photon, preventing any interaction with the active component of the image receptor - the image appears white if all photons are involved, grey if some photons are not involved
X - photoelectric