Effective atomic numbers and mass attenuation coefficients of some thermoluminescent dosimetric compounds for total photon interaction

Effective atomic numbers for total gamma-ray interaction with some selected thermoluminescent dosimetric compounds such as barium acetate, barium sulf ate, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, calcium sulfate dihydrate, cadmium sulfate (anhydrous), cadmium sulfate, strontium sulfate, and lithium fluor ide have been calculated in the 1-keV to 20-MeV energy region. Experimental mass attenuation coefficients and effective atomic numbers for these compo unds at selected photon energies of 26.3, 33.2, 59.54, and 661.6 keV have b een obtained from good geometry transmission measurements and compared with theoretical values. The effect of absorption edge an effective atomic numb ers and its variation with energy, and nonvalidity of the Bragg's mixture r ule at incident photon Energies closer to the absorption edges of constitue nt elements of compounds are discussed.