Which interaction allows radiation to be detected using various types of equipment?

The correct choice involves photoelectric absorption, which is a fundamental interaction that enables radiation detection through various instruments. In photoelectric absorption, a photon interacts with an electron in a material, transferring all of its energy to that electron, which then is ejected from its atom. This transition leads to the production of secondary photons and electrons, which can be measured by detection equipment.

This process is crucial in radiation detectors, such as scintillation counters and semiconductor detectors, because the ejected electrons can create ionization or excite adjacent atoms, leading to measurable signals. The efficiency and effectiveness of these detectors in identifying the presence and energy of radiation rely heavily on this interaction.

In contrast, the other interactions mentioned, such as pair production (which involves the creation of particle-antiparticle pairs from high-energy photons), atomic decay (a process by which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation), and Compton scattering (where a photon scatters off an outer-shell electron, losing some energy), are essential for understanding radiation physics but do not primarily facilitate the direct detection of radiation in standard detection instruments. Each interaction has its own specific application and significance in the field of radiation safety and detection, but photoelectric absorption distinctly supports the operation of various detection equipment through direct energy transfer