Gamma ray attenuation parameters of inorganic nonlinear optical materials in the energy range 122 keV to 1330 keV

In transmission experiments the mass attenuation coefficients of some inorganic nonlinear optical (NLO) materials viz; potassium dihydrogen phosphate (H₂KO₄P), ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NH₄H₂PO₄) and sodium 1-decansulfonate (C₁₀H₂₁SO₃Na) have been determined at different photon energies 122 keV to 1330 keV and compared with the values obtained from the XCOM program. It has been observed that there is a good agreement between theoretical and experimental values. The total atomic cross section (σ_t,a), total electronic cross section (σ_t,el) and other related parameters have also been calculated from the obtained mass attenuation coefficient (μ_m) values and their variations with photon energy have been plotted. In the present work, it is observed that the variation of obtained values of μ_m, σ_t, σ_e, Z_eff, N_eff, ε, μ_en/ρ and σ_a,en strongly depends on the photon energy. These parameters decrease or increase due to chemical composition and density of the sample. The values of μm of Sodium 1-decanesulfonate (C₁₀H₂₁SO₃Na) have been found greater than of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (H₂KO₄P) and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NH₄H₂PO₄) because the molecular weight of sodium 1-decanesulfonate is greater than other two samples in the entire energy region. The mass attenuation coefficient (μ_m) and other related parameters of all sample materials have been carried out and transmission curves have been plotted. The transmission curves shows the variation of all sample materials which decreases with increasing photon energy. The results of this present study can be useful in radiation dosimetry, radiation therapy and other technological applications. (author)