Study of non-validity of mixture rule near K-absorption edges by X-ray spectrometric technique

X-ray spectrometric technique has been described to determine the X-ray mass attenuation coefficient, μ/ρ, of X-rays employing HPGe X-ray detector and radioactive sources. The photon intensity is measured by gating the channel of the spectrometer at FWHM/photo peak. Using the technique the 'best value' values of μ/ρ were obtained for those thicknesses which lie in the transmission (T) range 0.5 ≥ T ≥ 0.02. Total attenuation cross sections for other elements and lead compounds were measured at photon energies from 17 to 88 keV to study the Bragg's additivity law near the absorption edge of the lead. The measured values of mass attenuation coefficient values are compared with theoretical values obtained using Winxcom (programme). This study suggests that measured mass attenuation coefficient values at and near absorption edges differ from the theoretical value by about 17-23%. (author)