https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01755-8
Regular Article
X- and gamma-rays attenuation properties of DNA nucleobases by using FLUKA simulation code
1
Department of Physics, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
2
Department of Physics, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
3
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, Saudi Arabia
a
mohammed.al-buriahi@ogr.sakarya.edu.tr
Received:
18
February
2021
Accepted:
17
June
2021
Published online:
27
July
2021
In this paper, we report on the radiation attenuation properties of the essential DNA nucleobases such as guanine, adenine, cytosine, uracil, and thymine. Gamma attenuation parameters such as linear attenuation factor (LAF) and effective atomic number (EAN) are investigated by using FLUKA simulation code for seven chosen photon energies named 0.6, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, and 10 MeV. The validation of the simulation results is performed by using XCOM calculations. Moreover, neutron and charge particles attenuation properties are examined for the essential DNA nucleobases. We also compare the radiation attenuation properties of the essential DNA nucleobases to those of liquid water. Our results indicate that the maximum LAF is observed at 0.6 MeV with the value of 0.183, 0.134, 0.130, 0.110, 0.103, and 0.089 cm−1 for guanine, adenine, cytosine, uracil, thymine, and liquid water, respectively. At a given photon energy, the exposure rate (ER) follows the trend: (ER)liquid water > (ER) thymine > (ER)cytosine > (ER)adenine. At 10 MeV, total stopping power (TSP) of electron interactions with the essential DNA nucleobases are 1.952, 1.977, 1.994, 1.990, 2.013, and 2.149 MeVcm2/g for guanine, adenine, cytosine, uracil, thymine, and liquid water, respectively. Comparatively, TSP of electron < proton < alpha particle < carbon ion at the same energy.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021