Difference between revisions of "Linear attenuation coefficient"
From Online Dictionary of Crystallography
BrianMcMahon (talk | contribs) m (Style edits to align with printed edition) |
BrianMcMahon (talk | contribs) m |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
== Definition == | == Definition == | ||
| − | The linear attenuation coefficient <math>\mu(E)</math>, or preferably <math>\mu_{TOT}(E)</math> in cm<sup> | + | The linear attenuation coefficient <math>\mu(E)</math>, or preferably <math>\mu_{TOT}(E)</math> in cm<sup>−1</sup>, is a measure of the photon beam attenuation by a material due to absorption and scattering processes and hence differs from the [[absorption coefficient]], which is a measure of beam attenuation due to absorption processes only. |
<math>\mu_{TOT}(E)</math> is given by | <math>\mu_{TOT}(E)</math> is given by | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
<math>\mu_{tot} = \Big[{\mu\over\rho}\Big]_{TOT}\rho</math> | <math>\mu_{tot} = \Big[{\mu\over\rho}\Big]_{TOT}\rho</math> | ||
| − | where <math>\rho</math> is the density of the material in g | + | where <math>\rho</math> is the density of the material in g cm<sup>−3</sup>. |
== History == | == History == | ||
Revision as of 09:04, 20 May 2017
Definition
The linear attenuation coefficient [math]\mu(E)[/math], or preferably [math]\mu_{TOT}(E)[/math] in cm−1, is a measure of the photon beam attenuation by a material due to absorption and scattering processes and hence differs from the absorption coefficient, which is a measure of beam attenuation due to absorption processes only.
[math]\mu_{TOT}(E)[/math] is given by
[math]\mu_{tot} = \Big[{\mu\over\rho}\Big]_{TOT}\rho[/math]
where [math]\rho[/math] is the density of the material in g cm−3.
History
Coefficients for converting between these units are given by many authors [Cohen, E. R. and Taylor, B. N. (1987). Rev. Mod. Phys. 59, 1121-1148; Creagh, D. C. and McAuley, W. J. (1992). International Tables for Crystallography, Volume C, ed. A. J. C. Wilson, Dordrecht: Kluwer; Chantler, C. T. (1995). J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 24, 71-643].