X-ray absorption in matter. Reengineering XCOM

doi:10.1016/S0969-806X(00)00324-8

Radiation Physics and Chemistry

Volume 60, Issues 1–2, January 2001, Pages 23-24

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0969-806X(00)00324-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

A Windows version of XCOM, the well-known program for calculating X-ray and gamma-ray attenuation coefficients and interaction cross sections, has been developed. The new program, called WinXCom, has an improved user interface.

Introduction

Data on the scattering and absorption of photons (X-rays and gamma rays) are required for many scientific, engineering and medical applications (Hubbell (1999a), Hubbell (1999b)). Available tables usually include cross sections for selected elements and possibly a limited number of compounds and mixtures. A convenient alternative to manual calculations, using tabulated data, is to generate cross sections and attenuation coefficients for elements, compounds and mixtures as needed, using a computer. For this purpose, Berger and Hubbell (1987) developed a computer program, called XCOM, and a database which can be used to calculate cross sections and attenuation coefficients for any element, compound or mixture, at energies from 1 to 100 GeV. This, much used program has since undergone a number of updates, and is now also available in a Web version (Berger and Hubbell, 1999).

XCOM can generate cross sections and attenuation coefficients on a standard energy grid, spaced approximately logarithmically, or on a grid selected by the user, or for a mix of both grids. The program provides total cross sections and attenuation coefficients as well as partial cross sections for the following processes: incoherent scattering, coherent scattering, photoelectric absorption, and pair production. For compounds, the quantities tabulated are partial and total mass interaction coefficients. Total attenuation coefficients without the contribution from coherent scattering are also given, because they are often used in gamma-ray transport calculations. Written in 1987, XCOM was intended to be compiled and linked on a main-frame computer, or run on a personal computer using the DOS operating system. The present note reports a software reengineering with the aim of transforming XCOM to the 32 bit Windows platform, thereby modernizing its user interface.

Section snippets

Requirements

The main features of the new Windows version of XCOM, which we have named WinXCom, are the following:

1.
WinXCom provides an interface that facilitates defining, redefining and saving substances in a substance definition list. Once a substance has been defined, it can be used in defining compunds or mixtures. It is also possible to define mixtures of already defined mixtures. The substance definition list comes with a predefined list of the first hundred elements (Z=1–100).
2.
WinXCom can generate

Reengineering strategy

Unfortunately, the original Fortran code of XCOM is poorly documented. Therefore, it was not possible to perform the traditional reengineering strategy of reverse-engineering, restructuring and forward-engineering. Instead, our chosen approach has been to encapsulate the legacy code, exposing only a single input/output function which could return the results of the XCOM calculations in a two-dimensional array.

Several attempts of encapsulating the code were made. The final solution was a manual

Documentation and availability

The WinXcom program and its user guide are currently available for download via http://www.intellix.com/klj-private/winxcom.htm. In case of problems with the download, the program can also be supplied on a CD-Rom. Please, contact [email protected].

During the course of this work, it has come to our attention that a similar program, XMuDat, has been developed by Nowotny (1998). XMuDat calculates mass attenuation coefficients for elements, compounds and mixtures in the energy range from 1 to 50

References (4)

Berger, M.J., Hubbell, J.H., 1987/99. XCOM: Photon Cross Sections Database. Web Version 1.2, available at...
J.H. Hubbell
Review of photon interaction cross section data in the medical and biological context
Phys. Med. Biol.
(1999)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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Technical noteX-ray absorption in matter. Reengineering XCOM

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Requirements

Reengineering strategy

Documentation and availability

Review of photon interaction cross section data in the medical and biological context

Phys. Med. Biol.

Technical note
X-ray absorption in matter. Reengineering XCOM