Measurement of the effective atomic number of FexCr1−x and FexNix alloys using scattering of gamma rays

•Values of Zeff depend on chemical content of alloys.•The agreement of measured values of effective atomic numbers with theoretical calculations is quite satisfactory.•The present calculations of Zeff have thrown new light on radiation physics and technological application. In the present work, to determine the effective atomic number of alloys such as Fe0.5Cr0.5, Fe0.7Cr0.3, Fe0.8Cr0.2, Fe0.9Cr0.1, Fe0.2Ni0.8, Fe0.3Ni0.7, Fe0.5Ni0.5, Fe0.6Ni0.4, Fe0.7Ni0.3 and Fe0.8Ni0.2 the scattering of 59.54keV gamma rays is studied using a high-resolution HPGe detector with a resolution of 182eV at 5.9keV and placed at 167o. The experiment is performed on various elements with atomic number satisfying, 4⩽Z⩽82, for 59.54keV gamma rays from a 5Ci 241Am annular radioactive source. The intensity ratio of Rayleigh to Compton scattered peaks, corrected for photo-peak efficiency of gamma detector and absorption of photons in the sample and air, is plotted as function of atomic number and constituted a best fit-curve. From this fit-curve, the respective effective atomic numbers to samples of alloys are determined. Also, the effective atomic numbers of alloys have been calculated by using the theoretical mass attenuation coefficients. The agreement of measured values of effective atomic numbers with theoretical calculations is quite satisfactory.