Physical basis of x-ray imaging.

This Chapter introduces basic aspects of X-ray imaging for diagnostic radiology, in the so-called diagnostic energy range (10–150 keV). These include the description of photon interaction processes in this energy range (photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, Rayleigh scattering); introductory physical aspects of X-ray image formation mechanisms (image contrast based on X-ray attenuation or phase change), for applications in general radiography and in mammography; the description of the radiation from the most common type of source for X-ray imaging, i.e. the X-ray tube, and description of X-ray tube spectra and its shaping through filtration. Examples of X-ray imaging with test objects are provided to illustrate the basic features of attenuation and refraction of X-rays in matter. References are made to commonly used software codes for the generation of tabulated attenuation coefficients data and for calculation of X-ray tube spectra.