MASS ATTENUATION COEFFICIENTS OF COMPOUNDS IMPORTANT FOR X-RAY IMAGING: EMPIRICAL MODELLING AND ESTIMATION OF ORDER OF DEPENDENCE ON PHOTON INTERACTION ENERGY

Abstract

Mass attenuation coefficients of some important X-ray imaging photoconductor materials
namely Mercuric Iodide, Lead Oxide, Lead Iodide and Cadmium Zinc Tellurium are
simulated for different photon interaction energies. The order of dependence of mass
attenuation coefficient on photon interaction energy is determined and corresponding
empirical models were developed for each compound. The order of dependence and hence
the empirical formula is found to be different in two different energy ranges. In the energy
range of 1KeV-110KeV, the order of dependence of mass attenuation coefficient on photon
interaction energy is found to be approximately -1.6 and in the energy range of 110KeV- 20MeV, the order of dependence is found to be approximately -2.45 for all the compounds.