X-RAY INTERACTION WITH MATTER & XRAY EMISSION Flashcards
What is X-ray quantity?
The number of X-rays in the useful beam
What happens to mAs when SID increases?
mAs must increase by SID^2 to maintain constant exposure
What is the best method for specifying X-ray quality?
Half-value layer (HVL)
What are the units of X-ray intensity?
R, mR, and mGya
What is the SI unit for measuring X-ray quantity?
mGya
What is the relationship between X-ray quantity and mAs?
Proportional
What is the formula for X-ray quantity and mAs?
I1/I1=MAS1/MAS2
What is the relationship between X-ray quantity and kVp?
Proportional to kVp^2
What is beam hardening?
Reducing low-energy X-rays through filtration
What is X-ray quality?
The penetrability of the X-ray beam
How is X-ray quality measured?
By the half-value layer (HVL)
The thickness of material needed to reduce X-ray intensity to half its original value
half-value layer
What is attenuation?
Reduction in X-ray intensity due to absorption and scattering
How is HVL determined?
Using an X-ray tube, radiation detector, and graded thicknesses of filters
What is the effect of increasing mAs on X-ray quality?
None
What is the effect of increasing mAs on X-ray quantity?
Increased
What is the effect of increasing kVp on X-ray quality?
Increased penetrability
What is the effect of increasing kVp on X-ray quantity?
Increased
What are the types of filtration in X-ray tubes?
Inherent and added filtration
What is the total filtration in diagnostic X-ray systems?
2.5 mm Al
A filter designed to shape the X-ray beam intensity
compensating filter
What is a wedge filter used for?
Examination of the foot
What is a bow-tie filter used for?
CT imaging systems
What is a trough filter used for?
Chest radiography
What are the five X-ray interactions with matter?
Coherent scattering
Compton scattering
photoelectric effect
pair production
photodisintegration
What is coherent scattering?
Interaction where X-rays change direction without energy change
At what energy does coherent scattering occur?
Below 10 keV
Interaction of X-rays with outer-shell electrons, ejecting them
Compton scattering
What is a photoelectron?
The ejected electron in the photoelectric effect
What is the photoelectric effect?
Total absorption of X-rays by inner-shell electrons
What is pair production?
Conversion of X-ray energy into an electron and positron
What energy level is required for pair production?
1.02 MeV
What is photodisintegration?
X-rays absorbed by the nucleus, emitting a nucleon
At what energy level does photodisintegration occur?
10 MeV
What is the relationship between the photoelectric effect and atomic number?
Proportional to the cube of the atomic number (Z³)
Variations in X-ray absorption in tissues, creating image contrast
differential absorption