(60) A MatLab simulation of gamma ray interaction with matter using the Monte Carlo method

When passing through a medium, high-energy photons called gamma rays leave energy traces as they interact with matter via scattering, absorption, annihilation, or pair production. In the energy range of approximately 1MeV,... [ view full abstract ]

When passing through a medium, high-energy photons called gamma rays leave energy traces as they interact with matter via scattering, absorption, annihilation, or pair production. In the energy range of approximately 1MeV, photon-matter interaction is dominated specifically by inelastic (Compton) scattering and photoelectric absorption. The collision probability of a photon per unit path length is calculated, and the photoelectric/scattering cross-sectional areas  a material is discussed. The result is a MATLAB algorithm to calculate, trace, and analyze these processes using the Monte Carlo method within a NaI crystal is presented. The concentration of energy left behind in a medium can therefore be visualized and is of critical importance in medical fields involving high-energy radiation treatment such as radiology, tomography, and MRI.