Determination of Linear Attenuation Coefficient of

Al, Fe and Pb
Applying Varying Channel Method

Prelim Project
Group I

Supervisor
Ma Lwin Lwin Soe (Prelim-Yapa-6)
Dr Win Zaw
Ma Nway Nway Aung (Prelim-Yapa-7)
Lecturer
Department of Physics Ma San Yin Phoo Maung (Prelim-Yapa-10)
University of Mandalay
Ma Moe Moe Aye (Prelim-Yapa-13)

Mg Myo Myint Shein (Prelim-Yapa-18)

Experimental Nuclear Physics Lab 1
3rd February, 2020
Outlines
 Objective
Introduction
Experimental Setup
Result and Discussion
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Objective
 To familiar with Gamma
Detection system [NaI(Tl)]
 To thoroughly know how to
analyze the spectrum

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Introduction
When 𝛾-ray beam passes through an absorber, it is attenuated.
The degree of attenuation depends on the scattering and various absorption
processes.
The absorption coefficient 𝜇 can be derived from the Lambert-Beer law
 x 1 I
I  I 0e   ln( 0 )
x I
where 𝐼0 = the incident 𝛾-ray intensity when measured without sample
𝐼 = the transmitted 𝛾-rays intensity through the sample
x = the sample thickness (cm)
The experimental mass-absorption coefficient (𝜇/𝜌) of elements is given by

 1  I0 
 ln  
 x  I 
where 𝜌 = the material density (g/cm3).
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Experimental Setup and Procedure
Source
Fiber Case

Absorber
Detector
Lead Shielding
PMT
PreAmp

HV Amp MCA PC

I0
I

x 5
 CT – 600s
CG – 20
FG – 0.688

Energy Spectrum before passing through the absorber

CT – 600s
CG – 20
FG – 0.688

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Energy Spectrum after passing through the absorber
 30 channel 30 channel

35 channel 35 channel

40 channel 40 channel

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 Result
 In this project, NaI(Tl) scintillation detector, standard calibration
sources
 Cs-137 and Co-60, standard absorbers Aluminium and Lead are used.
But there is no standard ion absorber, normal cast iron sheets are used
instead of standard.
 The spectrum analyzing was performed at the observed spectra with
various channel, 30 channel left and right from centroid, 35 channel
left and right from the centroid and 40 channel left and right from the
centroid.

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 Result
 The sample analyzed data are shown in Table (1) and the graph
plotting with analyzed data is shown in Figure(1).
 The linear attenuation data was taken from the slope of the graph.
Comparison of reference values and measured values are shown in
Table(2).
 The typical attenuation chart is shown in Figure(2).

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Table (1) Analysed data of observed spectrum (Al, 1173keV)

Sr no Thickness I(0) I ln(I0/I)

(cm)

1 0 18104 18104 0

2 0.309 18104 17656 0.025057

3 0.356 18104 17266 0.047394

4 0.401 18104 17079 0.058283

5 0.449 18104 16911 0.068169

6 0.509 18104 16758 0.077257

7 0.555 18104 16454 0.095564

8 0.593 18104 16760 0.077138

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 AlCo(1173keV)
Ln(I0/I) 0.12

0.1

f(x) = 0.16 x − 0.01

0.08
R² = 0.9

0.06 AlCo(1173keV)
Linear (AlCo(1173keV))

0.04

0.02

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Thickness(cm)
Figure (1) The graph of thickness vs ln(I0/I)

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 Table (2) Comparison of reference value and measured data with discrepancy

Reference Measured values Discrepancy

Channel
Source
No 0.662MeV 1.173MeV 1.332MeV 0.662 MeV 1.173 MeV 1.332 MeV 0.662 MeV 1.173 MeV 1.332 MeV

Ch_30 Al 0.20131 0.15314 0.14358 0.2048 0.1553  0.1414  -1.7336 -1.4370 1.5183

Ch_35 Al 0.20131 0.15314 0.14358  0.1991 0.1529  0.1457 1.0978 0.1567 -1.4765

Ch_40 Al 0.20131 0.15314 0.14358 0.1981 0.1576 0.1484 1.5946 -2.9124 -3.3570
         
Ch_30 Fe 0.83100 0.43514 0.40807 0.5863 0.4376 0.4202 -1.3816 -0.5653 -2.9725

Ch_35 Fe 0.83100 0.43514 0.40807 0.5868 0.4298 0.4195 -1.4681 1.2272 -2.8010

Ch_40 Fe 0.83100 0.43514 0.40807 0.5857 0.4427 0.4308 -1.2779 -1.7374 -5.5701
         
Ch_30 Pb 1.26000 0.70355 0.64001 1.171 0.7577 0.5736 7.0635 -7.6967 10.3764

Ch_35 Pb 1.26000 0.70355 0.64001 1.182 0.6714 0.652 6.1905 4.5697 -1.8734

Ch_40 Pb 1.26000 0.70355 0.64001 1.1919 0.6866 0.6258 5.4048 2.4092 2.2203

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 1.4
Linear Attenuation Coefficient

1.2

0.8
Pb
Fe
Al
0.6

0.4

0.2

0
660 760 860 960 1060 1160 1260 1360 1460

Energy (keV)
Figure (2) Typical Attenuation Chart for various energies
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 Discussion
 According to table 2, the reference linear attenuation value and
measured values are agreed within the discrepancy of 0.1567 to
10.3764.
 Actually , the measured value and reference value should be
matched almost 100% .
 The greatest tolerance is 10%. It is due to the weak intensity of
sources, lack of collimation and less counting time.

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THANK YOU

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