Evaluation of Interaction Properties of Some Ionizing Radiation with Selected Nitrogen-Based Explosives.

Gamma radiation, neutron, electron and charged ions interaction properties of ten nitrogen-based explosive compounds were theoretically evaluated. Different computer programs were deployed in the computation. Results showed that interaction properties of all investigated explosive samples were majorly dependent on density, mean excitation potential and chemical composition of the sample. Among all investigated explosives, higher gamma ray interaction was observed in E7 (Nitrocellulose) and E3 (HMTD) explosives. Range of charged ions increased with decrease in density of samples but increased with projectile energies of charged ions. E1 (Ammonium nitrate) gave the maximum stopping power at the highest electron energy and minimum range at highest electron energy. The E1 (Ammonium nitrate) also displayed the highest value of FNRCS (0.121 cm−1), while E8 (Nitroglycerin) gave the lowest value of FNRCS (0.044 cm−1). These interaction properties are veritable parameters of consideration in characterization and detection of these explosives. The average relative deviations between Phy-X/PSD and Gamma rays attenuation shielding parameters (GRASP) computer programs in the measurement of MAC is 0.0501%. The mean relative deviation between Auto-Zeff and GRASP programs is 0.3390%. This implies that the newly developed GRASP can be deployed for the computation of gamma rays' interaction parameters with reasonable accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]