In the low peak kilovoltage kVp range using a molybdenum target tube, what type of photon interaction predominates?

In the context of mammography and the use of a molybdenum target tube at low peak kilovoltage kVp levels, the photoelectric effect is the predominant type of photon interaction.

The photoelectric effect occurs when a photon interacts with an inner-shell electron of an atom, resulting in the complete absorption of the photon’s energy and the ejection of the electron from its shell. This process is particularly significant at the lower kVp values typically used in mammography because the energy of the photons is more closely matched to the binding energy of the electrons in the tissues being imaged, such as breast tissue. As a result, this interaction is more likely to occur in materials with a high atomic number, such as those found in breast tissue.

Additionally, the photoelectric effect contributes to the contrast of mammography images, as different tissues absorb photons to varying degrees, allowing for better visualization of structures within the breast. This is essential for detecting abnormalities like tumors, which may have different absorption characteristics compared to normal breast tissue.

In contrast, other interactions, such as Compton scattering, might dominate at higher kVp levels, where the energy of the photons exceeds the binding energies of the electrons, leading to different imaging characteristics. However, for