What is the type of radiation produced by the photoelectric effect called?

The type of radiation produced by the photoelectric effect is known as secondary radiation. When the photoelectric effect occurs, high-energy photons (such as X-rays) interact with matter (typically the tissues of the body), resulting in the ejection of inner shell electrons from the atoms. This process not only absorbs the original photon but also creates ionization within the material, leading to the production of lower-energy photons. These lower-energy photons that are generated as a result of the interaction and subsequent electron transitions are categorized as secondary radiation.

This distinction is important because primary radiation refers to the initial beam of photons emitted from the X-ray tube before any interaction with matter, while scatter radiation arises when primary radiation is deflected in different directions as it interacts with the body or other materials. Background radiation refers to the constant, low-level radiation present in the environment, originating from natural and artificial sources, and is not related to the interactions occurring in an imaging procedure. Understanding the nature of these different types of radiation is crucial in the field of radiology for both safety and imaging quality.