Radiobiology > Physical Processes > Atomic and Molecular Interactions > Pair Production
Pair Production
Note pair production requires relatively high photon energies that are generally not produced in diagnostic imaging.
Photons with quantum energy in excess of 1.02 MeV (usually >10 MeV) may interact with matter to produce a negative electron and its anti-particle (positron). The value of 1.02 MeV equals the combination rest mass energy of an electron and a positron.