X-Ray Recap Flashcards
Define Rayleigh scattering
Elastic scattering off a bound electron
Scattered photons have the same energy as the incoming photon, but a different direction.
Incoming photon not ‘detected’ – no good for making an x-ray detector
Define Compton scattering
Inelastic scattering cross section dep on e density
Outer shell electron ejected (ionisation) and photon scattered with lower energy
Define the photo-electric effect
Depends heavily on Z
Inner shell electron ejected (ionisation) if energy is high enough
E = hv - o
Scatter photon in visible spectrum
The impact of cross-sectional area and how is it measured
Defines the probability of a interaction occurring.
Atomic cross section is measured in barns 10-28 m2
Can calculate from mass-attenuation coeff
Requirements for detecting X-ray photons for imaging
For efficient detection you need to find materials with a high probability of photo-electric interactions at diagnostic energies
Cross-section is boosted when the incoming photo energy matches the transition energies of the atom -> results in a k-edge
k-shell is important, needs to be in the range of 10-60keV to maximise the PE effect.
Two main methods of photon interaction with detectors
- Direct detectors (photons to electrons)
- Indirect detectors (radiative transitions)
Types of detectors
Direct:
Ionisation chambers
Semiconductors
Indirect:
Photoluminescence
Describe Ionisation X-ray detection
High pressure xenon used in older CT scanners
Electron-ion pairs collected from any type of ionisation events
What are the limitations of ionisation x-ray detectors?
- > poor resolution
- > poor response time
- > strong angular dependency
- > Low sensitivity (gas!)
Describe direct semiconductor detectors
High energy photo-electron generates many ionisation events: lots of free electrons to collect; measure charge generated
X-rays -> charge -> signal
charged stored per pixel -> energy integrator
a-Se is most common, requires doping to stay amorphous at room temp
high electric field to limit literal spread
Limits of a-Se
Low K-edge High elec field to lim spatial spread mans inc dark current, dec SNR Higher cost Trapped electron issues Temperature instability Value dep on tot energy dep per pixel
Great for mammo! 12.7keV k-edge
Describe indirect detectors
Uses photoluminescence
X-rays -> light -> charge -> signal
Two types of photo-luminescence detector
Fluorescence: uses photon generated directly - II, FP
Phosphorescence: Electron traps, photons released later during readout - CR
Describe Photoluminescence
Fluorescence: excited electrons rapidly decay to the ground state
Phosphorescence : excited electrons decay to a metastable state. Transition probability to the ground state is low.
Ideal FP detector
Scintillator light has an output wavelength must be optimised for light detector.
CsI gives green light which match well to photodiodes
Good yield of photons for input x-ray energy range 10-100keV - P-E cross-sections