Photon attenuation computational software tools - A comparative study

Various photon attenuation software tools are being used widely by researchers to evaluate the radiation shielding parameters of the elements/compounds/composites theoretically. Attempts are being made by a few researchers to update and develop software tools of these kinds. However, the efficacy of these tools in terms of their comparison is yet to be explored. Thus, an attempt has been made in the present study to compare & explore the best tool among the widely used and most trusted tools, such as Phy-X, XCOM, FFAST and XMuDat photon attenuation databases, to evaluate the shielding parameters of PVA-based composites filled with bismuth and tungsten, and also for materials such as bismuth, tungsten, gold, copper, platinum, lead and barite. Careful analysis of the data obtained computationally and experimentally shows that, although the Phy-X tool provides various shielding parameters with multiple choices in the selection of energy range, it is noticed that this tool needs to be figured out for obtaining the absorption edges of the composites of interest precisely. The XCOM database provides sharp absorption edges; however, this tool gives multiple values of mass attenuation coefficients corresponding to a particular absorption edge energy. On the other hand, The FFAST tool provides sharp absorption edges along with X ray fine structure. However, the tool restricts to work with elements and compounds in the energy range 1 keV–433 keV, which limits the utilization of this tool. Furthermore, the XMuDat tool has a limiting option to work with the materials available in its library/database and provides the mass attenuation coefficient and four other parameters. However, the XMuDat provides a large number of data points, which helps to identify any minute deviation in the values of the parameters. Therefore, the present study suggests that the XMuDat tool is much more advantageous and reliable than the other tools for the detailed study of various radiation shielding parameters. •XCOM tool provides two values of MAC at the absorption edges results in ambiguity in measuring MAC values.•Phy-X/PSD tool needs to be figured out for the precise absorption edges in the energy range of 1 keV–100 GeV.•XMuDat provides fifty thousand data points which helps to identify sharp absorption edges.•Present study reveals that the XMuDat tool is much more reliable than the XCOM and Phy- X/PSD.