A study of the effective atomic number of SixPb0.7-x(Fe2O3)0.3 ternary alloys for photons

Abstract

The effective atomic number (Zeff) of SixPb0.7-x(Fe2O3)0.3 ternary alloys was obtained for photons. Rayleigh to Compton scattering ratio (R/C) has been determined to obtain the Zeff of SixPb0.7-x(Fe2O3)0.3 ternary alloys of varying Si and Pb (10 %-60 %) content for scattering of 59.54 keV g-rays at an angle of 130?. The theoretical R/C ratios of elements were plotted as a function of the atomic number and fitted to a polynomial equation. Experimental R/C values of alloys were then used to obtain Zeff using this fit equation. Also, Zeff values of these alloys were determined for the first time by interpolating the R/C of the material using the R/C data of adjacent elements in between the R/C of the alloy lies. The agreement between the interpolation method and the fit equation was quite satisfactory. The obtained Zeff for photon scattering were then compared to the Zeff for total photon attenuation obtained using the Auto-Zeff program. Significant variations were observed between the Zeff for scattering and the total attenuation of gamma rays.