Utilization of Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation method for studying attenuation of photons in normal and heavy concretes at high energy values

Abstract

The mass attenuation coefficients, l/q, the linear attenuation coefficients, l and the mean free path, MFP of normal and heavy concretes; ordinary, hematite- serpentine, ilmenite-limonite, basalt-magnetite, ilmenite, steel-scrap and steel-magnetite have been investigated using Geant4 Monte Carlo method at photon energies 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 MeV. The mass attenuation coefficients, the linear attenuation coefficient and the mean free path for the concretes were found dependent upon chemical composi- tions, density and the photon energy. The linear attenuation coefficient values for the selected concretes increase with the density and decrease with the energy. The mean free path thickness for the all the concretes decrease with increase in iron content and increase with increase the photon energy. The Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation method results have been compared with experimental and theoretical XCOM data, and showed a very good agree- ment. Our investigation validates the utilization of the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation method for high energy photon interactions.