Linear attenuation coefficient
From Online Dictionary of Crystallography
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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/cm3.
History
Coefficients for converting between these units are given by many authors [Cohen, E. R., 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].