Investigation of photon energy absorption properties for some biomolecules

The mass energy absorption coefficient (en/), effective atomic number (ZPEAeff), and electron density (NPEAeff) of some biomolecules with potential application in radiation dosimetry were calculated for their photon energy absorption (PEA) in the energy region of 1-20MeV. It was noticed that the values of en/, ZPEAeff, and NPEAeff vary with the energy and composition of the biomolecules. The results for ZPEAeff were compared with effective atomic numbers (ZPIeff) owing to the photon interaction (PI). Significant differences were noted between ZPEAeff and ZPIeff in the energy region of 10-150keV for all of the biomolecules involved. A maximum difference of 45.36% was observed at 50keV for creatinine hydrochloride. Moreover, the studied attenuation parameters were found to be sharply affected at the K-absorption edge of relatively high-Z elements present in the biomolecules.