Effective atomic numbers and electron densities for some lanthanide oxide compounds using direct method in the energy region of 1 keV - 20 MeV

In this paper, the effective atomic numbers and electron densities representing interaction of gamma rays with oxides of lanthanides have been studied. The effective atomic numbers for photon energy-absorption ( Z PEAeff ) and photon interaction ( Z PIeff ), and relative to air Z Reff , the effective electron densities for photon energy-absorption ( N PEAeff ) and photon interaction ( N PIeff ) were calculated using the values of the mass attenuation and energy absorption coefficients. The variation of Z PEAeff , Z PIeff , Z Reff , N PEAeff and N PIeff with energy were shown graphically. In the continuous energy region, it was observed that there are agreements and disagreements between photon interaction and photon energy-absorption for effective atomic numbers and electron densities of compounds in different energy regions. In addition, absorption edge effects on effective atomic numbers leading more than a single value of effective atomic number at a specific energy have been discussed for the given compounds. Comparisons with experiments wherever possible have been carried out for calculated values of Z eff and N eff .