Photoelectric cross-sections of light elements and compounds at low photon energies

Abstract

Total photon mass attenuation coefficients in C, Al, S, Ti, B₂O₃, LiF, ZnO, Y₂O₃ and H₈O₂C₅ (perspex) are measured on a good geometry set-up using proportional counter, Si(Li) and Ge(Li) detecting systems in the energy region from 6.47 to 52.014 keV employing x-rays and gamma rays from radioactive sources. The deduced photoelectric cross-sections are found to agree with the theoretical values of Storm and Israel, Scofield and semiexperimental values of Veigele wherever available within a few percent. The photo-electric cross-sections in elements, S, Ti and Y at their respectiveK-edges obtained by extrapolation technique agree with the theoretical values of Storm and Israel and Scofield at the respectiveK-edges except in S. In the case of S both the theoretical values atK-edges are found to be underestimations, more in the case of Scofield evaluations.