Determination of Some Atomic Parameters for Aktaş, Çıldır Lake, and Kura River Water with the Help of WinXCom

Abstract

In this study, elemental analyses of water samples taken from Aktaş, Çıldır Lake, and Kura River basins in Ardahan province were carried out using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The mass attenuation coefficients, total photon interaction cross sections, effective atomic numbers, and electron densities were determined with the help of WinXCom for the main gamma-ray energies released when Ra-226, which is an important source of natural radiation, decays into Rn-222, Bi-214, and Po-214. As a result of the study, it was determined that Çıldır Lake would have more γ-ray interaction than Aktaş Lake and Kura River for the γ-ray energies taken into account. For γ-ray interaction degrees, the order can be made: Çıldır Lake > Kura River > Aktaş Lake.