Which scattering process involves the interaction between high-energy photons and atomic nuclei?

The correct answer involves the process known as Bremsstrahlung scattering, where high-energy photons interact with atomic nuclei, resulting in a change in the direction of the photons and simultaneous emission of lower energy photons. This scattering occurs when fast electrons encounter the electric fields of nearby nuclei, causing them to decelerate and emit energy in the form of X-rays.

In the context of mammography, understanding Bremsstrahlung is important because it explains how X-ray production can involve interactions at the nuclear level. The significance lies in how these interactions contribute to the spectrum of X-rays produced, influencing image quality and dose management in mammography.

Other scattering processes, like Compton scattering, refer to interactions between photons and electrons rather than nuclei, while coherent scattering involves low-energy photons scattering elastically with atoms, not related to nuclear interaction. The photoelectric effect describes a photon being completely absorbed by an atom, resulting in the ejection of an electron, which also does not involve the interaction with the bulk of the atomic nucleus. Thus, the context of interactions with nuclei is specific to Bremsstrahlung scattering, which is why it is correctly identified as the relevant process here.