Measurement of the mass attenuation coefficient for elemental materials in the range 6 ≤, Z ≤ 82 using X-rays from 13 up to 50 kev

The mass attenuation coefficients for 22 high purity elemental materials (C, Al, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Ta, Pt, An, Pb) were measured in the X-ray energy range from 13 up to 50 keV using a high purity germanium detector with thin (50 pm) Be window and a variable-energy X-ray source. The measured values are compared with the theoretical ones obtained using the XCOM code and data base, as well as with other experimental data showing a general agreement within +/- 5%. The mass attenuation cross-sections were thus derived and compared with other experimental data available on the 1988 NBS database of X-ray attenuation cross-sections. The agreement is always within +/- 8%, but for a few points the discrepancies are up to +/- 18%. The data analysis has also shown that some measurements performed at 50.65 keV as well as at 36.65 keV are to be considered as new data for most of the measured materials. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.