Abstract
Mass attenuation coefficient (), effective atomic number () and effective electron density () were determined experimentally and theoretically for some amino acids (Glycine, L-Alanine, D-Alanine, Proline, L-Leucine and D-Leucine) at 8.04, 8.91, 13.37, 14.97, 17.44, 19.63, 22.10, 24.90, 30.82, 32.06, 35.40, 36.39, 37.26, 43.74, 44.48, 50.38, 51.70, 53.16, 80.99, 276.40, 302.85, 356.01, 383.85 and 661.66 keV photon energies by using an high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector with a resolution of 182 eV at 5.9 keV. The theoretical mass attenuation coefficients were estimated using mixture rule. The calculated values were compared with the experimental values for all amino acids. Good agreement has been observed between experimental and theoretical values within experimental uncertainties. The results show that mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers and effective electron densities depend on photon energy and chemical content. Also, the investigated parameters are different in different isomers (L- and D-) ofthe same molecule. Key words: Mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number, effective electron density, high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector.
Highlights
In recent years, due to increasing use of medical physics and radiation biology, the study of photon-atom interaction parameters has attained a significant importance
The results show that mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers and effective electron densities depend on photon energy and chemical content
We reported new data on mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number and effective electron density in the energy range of 8.04 to 661.66 keV
Summary
Due to increasing use of medical physics and radiation biology, the study of photon-atom interaction parameters has attained a significant importance. These parameters are mass attenuation coefficient ( m ), atomic and electronic cross-section, effective atomic number ( Zeff ) and effective electron density ( Nel ). In photon interaction in the composite materials, the atomic number cannot be represented uniquely by a single number across the entire energy region, as in the case of pure elements. For composite materials this quantity is called the effective atomic number and it varies with energy (Hine, 1952). The effective atomic numbers for some chemical compounds containing H-, Cand O- atoms were reported (Hiremath and Chikkur, 1993)
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