Gamma-Ray Attenuation Coefficient Measurements

In an earlier paper, published by the authors elsewhere, it was shown that for 661.6-keV $\gamma$ rays the measurements of $\gamma$-ray attenuation coefficients would greatly improve if one uses the counting sequence of Conner et al. together with a new criterion $\mu t<\mathrm{}1\mathrm{}$, where $\mu$ is the $\gamma$-ray attenuation coefficient and $t$ is the thickness of the sample. In this paper the authors report results which establish the above criterion for 84-keV $\gamma$ rays also. Using the above method the total $\gamma$-ray attenuation coefficients have been measured in carbon, aluminum, copper, tin, and lead at $\gamma$-ray energies of 84, 129, 145.41, 279.12, 322, and 411.8 keV.