Determination of mass attenuation coefficient by numerical absorption calibration with Monte-Carlo simulations at 59.54Â keV

This study presents a numerical method in order to determine the mass attenuation coefficient of a sample with an unknown chemical composition at low energy. It is compared with two experimental methods: a graphic method and a transmission method. The method proposes to realise a numerical absorption calibration curve to process experimental results. Demineralised water with known mass attenuation coefficient (0.2066cm2g−1 at 59.54 keV) is chosen to confirm the method. 0.1964±0.0350cm2g−1 is the average value determined by the numerical method, that is to say less than 5% relative deviation compared to more than 47% for the experimental methods.