In direct digital technology, the x-ray strike is captured by what material in the detector?

In direct digital technology, the material used in the detector to capture the x-ray strike is amorphous selenium. This choice is significant because amorphous selenium has excellent x-ray absorption properties, enabling it to effectively convert x-rays directly into an electrical signal without the need for an intermediate step. This direct conversion results in high-resolution images with improved diagnostic quality, making it highly suitable for mammography applications.

Amorphous selenium also exhibits a uniform response to exposure across the detector surface, which is critical in maintaining consistent image quality. The efficiency of this material allows for lower radiation doses while still achieving high-quality images, aligning with the goal of minimizing radiation exposure in mammographic imaging.

In contrast, other materials listed, while relevant in different contexts or technologies, do not fulfill the same role in direct digital mammography as amorphous selenium.