X-ray Production and Interactions

This unit will explain the process of x-ray production and how xrays interact with matter

Two Sets of Interactions

Interactions in the x-ray tube target between filament electrons and anode target atoms
Bremsstrahlung Characteristic

Interactions in the body between x-ray photons and tissue atoms.

Photoelectric Coherent Compton Pair Production Photodisintegration

Converting Electrons into X-ray Photons

Production of diagnostic x-rays is extremely inefficient
Therapeutic x-ray production, where mega electron volts (MeV) are used, has a higher conversion of electrons into photons In the diagnostic range (KeV), there is more conversion of the electrons to heat
Total number of electrons converted to heat is 99% Only 1% of the electrons are converted to photons

Bremsstrahlung Target Interaction

Created when incident (filament) electron interacts with the nucleus of an anode target atom Occurs at all kV settings
Electron approaches nucleus Nuclear force field is too strong for electron to penetrate
Electron slows down (brakes) Braking causes a loss of energy Energy loss is released as a Brems x-ray photon Energy of the photon is exactly the difference between the entering & exiting filament electron energy Electron changes course & keeps going in new direction

Brems Target Interaction

The closer the electron gets to the nucleus, the more it brakes; resulting in a higher energy Brems photon Electron can collide with nucleus losing all of its energy, pass close to the nucleus and lose most of its energy, or pass at a distance and lose little of its energy. Average energy of Brems is 1/3 of the maximum kV used

Characteristic Target Interactions

Occur when incident (filament) electron interacts with an orbital electron of the anode target atom.
Incident (filament) electron has energy binding energy of orbiting electron Filament electron knocks inner-shell electron from orbit creating hole. The atom is now unstable Outer-shell electron drops into hole, must give up energy to do this Energy is released as characteristic x-ray photon
Characteristic photon energy is equal to the difference between binding energy of the electron shells involved. (ex. If L shell electron fills K shell vacancy K-L= characteristic photon energy)

Characteristic Target Interactions

When outer shell electrons fill inner shell vacancies, a characteristic cascade occurs. This produces several x-ray photons at different energies from each atom Photon is named for the hole filled (k-characteristic, L-characteristic, etc.)

Characteristic Target Interactions

Any outer shell electron can fill an inner shell vacancy, the most likely is the adjacent shell k-shell emissions are the highest in energy and are the only emissions useful to us To get K-characteristic we must use at least 70 kV. (k-shell binding energy of tungsten is 69.5 keV). Below 70 kV the beam is basically Brems.

X-ray Photon Emission Spectrum The emission spectrum for tungsten (most common target material)
Overall smooth shape X-ray production starts 15 keV Increases rapidly to 30-40% of max. energy (peak of the curve) After peak, there is a gradual down-slope to x-axis (maximum energy)

X-ray Photon Emission Spectrum

At the 70 keV point, a slight spike occurs which is representative of the characteristic interactions taking place in the target material. In tungsten targets, this will always occur at 70 keV

X-ray Photon Emission Spectrum

The position of the spectrum on the x-axis represents quality, the further to the right it is the higher the quality. The area under the spectrum represents the quantity of x-rays, the greater the area the greater the quantity.

quality quantity

Factors Affecting the Emission Spectrum

Tube current (mA): increasing the mA (mAs) increases the amplitude of the spectrum (area under the spectrum) Tube voltage (kV): increasing the kV increases the amplitude of the spectrum and shifts it to the right. Added filtration: adding a compensating filter will decrease the amplitude, more so on the left side than the right. Target material: changing to a better target material will increase amplitude AND shift discrete spike to the right.

Attenuation
Attenuation - reduction in the number of photons as they pass through matter Attenuation occurs in several different ways:
Some photons are absorbed by matter they pass through Others change course in matter, called scatter

Attenuation
In short, this is how we get an image on our x-ray film
High density bone attenuates the photons that try to pass through its structure
This creates light areas on our x-ray film

In other places there is little attenuation, such as an air-filled cavity, the majority of the photons will reach the x-ray film
This creates dark areas on our x-ray film

Photoelectric Absorption
X-ray photon ejects a k-shell electron KE = Ex - Ek True absorption - Photon is completely absorbed in process Also called photoelectric effect & is what gives the clear areas of our films

Coherent Scattering

(classical scattering)

Change in direction of incident x-ray without change in kinetic energy

As photon approaches atom: Photon is absorbed by the atom causing excitation Atom immediately releases this energy as a scattered photon with energy equal to incident photon but in a new direction Only occurs with incident photons of about 10 keV energy At 70 kVp, only 3% of photons are result of this Adds to patient dose, minor effect on film (fog)

Compton Scattering
Occurs between moderate-energy x-ray photons & outer-shell electrons Results of interaction are:
Ionization of target atom Change in direction of photon
Can deflect in any direction Backscatter - x-rays that scatter back to origin (180 angle)

Reduction in energy of photon Both scatter photon (former incident photon) and orbital electron possess enough energy to undergo many more ionization events.

Can occur with all x-rays

Compton Scattering
Creates an exposure hazard in radiography
Primary contributor to film fog Can leave patients & cause interactions in the radiographer, resulting in radiation exposure A serious problem in fluoroscopy and is the major source of occupational exposure

Pair Production
Occurs with photons having energies > 1.02 MeV.
Used only in radiation therapy applications Does not occur in the diagnostic range

Photon reacts with the nuclear force field & creates 2 particles with opposing electrostatic charges:
Negatron (electron) Positron Each has .51 MeV of energy

Photodisintegration
Occurs when a photon is absorbed by the nucleus of atom & nucleus must release a nuclear fragment (nucleon) Occurs only with photons with energy level greater than 10 MeV
only in radiation therapy procedures Outside diagnostic range

Selecting Proper Technical Factors Considerations

kV determines type of interaction in the body
As kV increases photoelectric decreases (everything is penetrated) As kV decreases photoelectric increases (more absorption by thicker or denser tissues) As kV increases Compton increases but Compton occurs throughout the diagnostic range.

Selecting Proper Technical Factors Select kV based on:

Type of exam (ex. Chest vs. ribs) Desired level of penetration Desired film contrast Minimizing patient dose