RPC M4

Ionization

The process of adding or removing one or more electrons from an atom or molecule, resulting in the formation of ions.

Excitation

When high-energy electrons collide with target material atoms, causing their electrons to become excited and eventually emit X-ray photons.

Specific Ionization

The number of ion pairs produced by a charged particle as it passes through a material, related to the energy of the particle and the density of the material.

Linear Energy Transfer (LET)

A measure of the rate at which energy is deposited by ionizing radiation as it passes through a material.

Penetration

When an X-ray photon penetrates a section of matter without interaction.

Absorption

The process where an X-ray photon interacts with matter and is completely absorbed, depositing its energy.

Scattering

When an X-ray photon interacts and is scattered or deflected from its original direction, losing parts of its energy.

Coherent Scattering

A low-energy X-ray photon interacts with an atom, causing the electrons to vibrate without energy transfer, resulting in a photon with the same energy and wavelength.

Compton Scattering

A high-energy X-ray photon interacts with an outer-shell electron, transferring some energy and causing the electron to be ejected from the atom.

Photoelectric Effect

Occurs when a high-energy X-ray photon transfers all its energy to an inner-shell electron, resulting in ionization of the atom.

Pair Production

Occurs when a very high-energy X-ray photon creates a positron-electron pair through interaction with the electromagnetic field around an atom.

Photodisintegration

An interaction that occurs with photons greater than 10 MeV, where a part of the nucleus of an atom is ejected.

Secondary Electron / Photoelectron

An electron ejected with kinetic energy equal to the energy of the incident photon minus the binding energy.

Vacancy Fulfillment

The process where an electron moves down to fill a vacancy in an atomic shell, producing a characteristic X-ray.

Annihilation Radiation

Radiation produced during the annihilation of a positron and an electron, resulting in two high-energy photons.