Which interaction has a significant impact on the quality of an x-ray image?

The interaction that has a significant impact on the quality of an x-ray image is Compton scattering. This phenomenon occurs when x-ray photons collide with loosely bound outer shell electrons in atoms, resulting in a partial transfer of energy to the electrons and causing both the photon and the electron to scatter.

Compton scattering is a fundamental interaction that contributes to image contrast and detail. It generates a range of energies for the scattered photons, which may either increase or decrease the overall image quality depending on the balance of scatter relative to the primary beam. As these scattered photons contribute to the radiographic image, they can lead to reduced image contrast and increased noise, making it vital to manage scatter in radiographic techniques to optimize image quality.

In contrast, other interactions like the photoelectric effect primarily contribute to image detail and contrast by absorbing x-rays in high atomic number materials and providing a clearer outline of structures, while Rayleigh scattering has minimal impact since it involves elastic scattering and does not significantly alter image quality. Pair production relates to high-energy photons interacting near a nucleus but occurs at energies much higher than those typically used in diagnostic radiology, rendering it less relevant in standard imaging contexts.