When photons, particularly X-ray photons, interact with matter, the outcomes are fundamental to how diagnostic imaging works. These interactions determine the quality of the images produced and the dose absorbed by the patient. In this three-part blog series, we’ll explore how photons behave when encountering human tissue, starting with the three primary photon interactions relevant in the diagnostic energy range: photoelectric effect, Compton scatter, and coherent scatter.

A. Photoelectric Effect: T...