What is the attenuation coefficient?

The attenuation coefficient is the measure that describes how a beam of x-rays or gamma rays are absorbed versus scattered in a material. From the value, the number of atoms in a cubic volume of material and the probability of a photon being scattered or absorbed can be determined.

The attenuation coefficient is also known as the linear coefficient. It can be used to determine several other values, including the intensity of energy transmitted through a material and the intensity of the incident x-ray. It can also be used to determine the thickness of the material. When looking for attenuation coefficient values in literature, it is sometimes easier to find mass attenuation coefficients instead.