New buildup factor data for point kernel calculations

An American Nuclear Society Standards Committee Working Group, identified as ANS-6.4.3, is developing a set of evaluated gamma-ray isotropic point-source buildup factors and attenuation coefficients for a standard reference data base. As a first step, a largely unpublished set of buildup factors calculated with the moments method has been evaluated by recalculating key values with Monte Carlo, integral transport, and discrete ordinates methods. Attention is being given to frequently-neglected processes such as bremsstrahlung and the effect of introducing a tissue phantom behind the shield. The proposed standard contains data for a source energy range from 15 keV to 15 MeV and for approximately 19 elements and 3 mixtures (water, air, and concrete). The data will also be represented as coefficients for the G-P fitting function. The 1985 data base was released as part of the CCC-493B/QAD-CGGP code package available from the Radiation Shielding Information Center (RSIC).