Study of mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers and electron densities for some low Z compounds of dosimetry interest at 59.54 keV incident photon energy

Total mass attenuation coefficient, total photon interaction cross-section, effective atomic numbers (Zeff) and electron densities (Ne) of Aniline (C6H5NH2), Cyclohexane (C6H12), Glycerine (C3H5(OH)3), Butyl alcohol N-(C4H9OH), DMSO – dimethyl sulfoxide (C2H6OS), Methyl ethyl-ketone (C4H8O), Xylene (C8H10), Acetophenone (C8H8O) and Triethyl amine (C6H15N) have been measured at 59.54 keV energy photon emitted by 100 mCi 241Am point source employing narrow beam transmission geometry. Obtained results have been compared with theoretically calculated values of XCOM (Berger and Hubbel, 1987) and FFAST (Chantler et al., 2005). Mixture rule was employed to calculated theoretical mass attenuation coefficient values for each sample. Good agreement has been observed between experimental and theoretical values within experimental uncertainties.

► Gamma-ray interaction parameters of some low Z compounds have been measured at 59.54 keV. ► Values of effective atomic numbers (Zeff) have been obtained using an alternative approach based upon interpolation method. ► Composite materials investigated behave as incoherent scatters. ► Selected compounds can be represented by single (valued) mean atomic number 〈Z〉 at incident photon energy. ► Data presented is expected to be useful in medical based applications of nuclear radiation.