Measurement of atomic number and mass attenuation coefficient in magnesium ferrite

Pure magnesium ferrite sample was prepared by standard ceramic technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction method. XRD pattern revealed that the sample possess single-phase cubic spinel structure. The linear attenuation coefficient (μ), mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), total atomic cross-section (σ _tot), total electronic cross-section (σ _ele) and the effective atomic number (Z _eff) were calculated for pure magnesium ferrite (MgFe₂O₄). The values of γ-ray mass attenuation coefficient were obtained using a NaI energy selective scintillation counter with radioactive γ-ray sources having energy 0.36, 0.511, 0.662, 1.17 and 1.28 MeV. The experimentally obtained values of μ/ρ and Z _eff agreed fairly well with those obtained theoretically.