Absorption length

The absorption length or attenuation length in x-ray scattering is the distance over which the x-ray beam is absorbed. By convention, the absorption length ϵ is defined as the distance into a material where the beam flux has dropped to 1/e of its incident flux.

Absorption

The absorption follows a simple Beer-Lambert law:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{I(x)}{I_0} = e^{ - x / \epsilon } }

The attenuation coefficient (or absorption coefficient) is simply the inverse of the absorption length; Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mu = 1/\epsilon}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{I(x)}{I_0} = e^{ - \mu x } }

Calculating

The absorption length arises from the imaginary part of the atomic scattering factor, f₂. It is closely related to the absorption cross-section, and the mass absorption coefficient. Specifically, the atomic photoabsorption cross-section can be computed via:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sigma = 2 r_e \lambda f_2 }

Where λ is the x-ray wavelength, and r_e is the classical electron radius. The attenuation coefficient is given by:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \begin{alignat}{2} \mu & = \frac{\rho N_a}{m_a} \sigma \\ & = \frac{\rho N_a}{m_a} 2 r_e \lambda f_2 \end{alignat} }

where ρ is density, N_a is the Avogadro constant, and m_a is the atomic molar mass. Note that the mass attenuation coefficient is simply Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mu/\rho} .

Related forms

As can be seen, there are many related quantities which express the material's absorption:

• Absorption length Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \epsilon} , the distance over which the intensity falls to 1/e.
• Attenuation coefficient $\mu$, the characteristic inverse-distance for attenuation.
• Mass attenuation coefficient $\mu /\rho$, the density-scaled attenuation.
• Absorptive atomic scattering factor $f_{2}$, the intrinsic dissipative interaction of the material.
• Atomic photoabsorption cross-section $\sigma$, the cross-section ('effective size') of the atom's x-ray absorption (capture) efficiency.
• Imaginary refractive index $\beta$, the resonant component of the refractive index.
• Imaginary Scattering Length Density $\mathrm {Im} (\mathrm {SLD} )$, the absorptive component of the scattering contrast.

$\epsilon$	$\epsilon ={\frac {1}{\mu }}$	$\epsilon ={\frac {\rho }{\mu /\rho }}$	$\epsilon ={\frac {m_{a}}{\rho N_{a}2r_{e}\lambda f_{2}}}$	$\epsilon ={\frac {m_{a}}{\rho N_{a}\sigma }}$	$\epsilon ={\frac {\lambda m_{a}}{4\pi M_{a}\beta }}$	$\epsilon ={\frac {m_{a}}{2M_{a}\lambda \mathrm {Im} (\mathrm {SLD} )}}$
$\mu ={\frac {1}{\epsilon }}$	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mu}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mu = \frac{\mu/\rho}{\rho}}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mu = \frac{\rho N_a}{m_a} 2 r_e \lambda f_2}	$\mu ={\frac {\rho N_{a}}{m_{a}}}\sigma$	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mu = \frac{4 \pi M_a}{ \lambda m_a } \beta}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mu = \frac{2 M_a \lambda}{m_a } \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD})}
${\frac {\mu }{\rho }}={\frac {1}{\rho \epsilon }}$	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{\mu}{\rho} = \mu/\rho}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{\mu}{\rho}}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{\mu}{\rho} = \frac{N_a}{m_a} 2 r_e \lambda f_2}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{\mu}{\rho} = \frac{N_a}{m_a} \sigma}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{\mu}{\rho} = \frac{4 \pi M_a}{ \rho \lambda m_a } \beta}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{\mu}{\rho} = \frac{2 M_a \lambda}{\rho m_a } \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD})}
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_2 = \frac{m_a }{\rho N_a 2 r_e \lambda \epsilon} }	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_2 = \frac{m_a }{\rho N_a 2 r_e \lambda} \mu }	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_2 = \frac{m_a }{ N_a 2 r_e \lambda} \frac{\mu}{\rho} }	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_2}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_2 = \frac{\sigma}{2 r_e \lambda}}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_2 = \frac{2 \pi M_a}{ \rho N_a r_e \lambda^2 } \beta}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_2 = \frac{M_a}{\rho N_a r_e } \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD})}
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sigma = \frac{m_a}{\rho N_a \epsilon} }	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sigma = \frac{m_a}{\rho N_a} \mu}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sigma = \frac{m_a}{N_a} \frac{\mu}{\rho}}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sigma = 2 r_e \lambda f_2}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sigma}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sigma = \frac{4 \pi M_a}{ \rho N_a \lambda } \beta}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sigma = \frac{2 \lambda M_a}{\rho N_a}\mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD})}
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \beta = \frac{ \lambda m_a }{4 \pi M_a \epsilon}}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \beta = \frac{ \lambda m_a }{4 \pi M_a} \mu}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \beta = \frac{ \rho \lambda m_a }{4 \pi M_a} \frac{\mu}{\rho}}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \beta = \frac{ \rho N_a r_e \lambda^2 }{2 \pi M_a} f_2}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \beta = \frac{ \rho N_a \lambda }{4 \pi M_a} \sigma}	$\beta$	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \beta = \frac{\lambda^2}{2 \pi} \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD})}
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD}) = \frac{m_a }{2 M_a \lambda \epsilon} }	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD}) = \frac{m_a }{2 M_a \lambda} \mu}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD}) = \frac{\rho m_a }{2 M_a \lambda} \frac{\mu}{\rho}}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD}) = \frac{\rho N_a r_e }{M_a} f_2}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD}) = \frac{\rho N_a}{2 \lambda M_a}\sigma}	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD}) = \frac{2 \pi \beta}{\lambda^2} }	Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{Im}(\mathrm{SLD})}

See Also

• LBL X-Ray Attenuation Length calculator
• APS absorption calculator
• Wikipedia: Mass attenuation coefficient
• NIST tables of x-ray mass attenuation coefficient