Li2O–B2O3–Bi2O3 glasses: gamma-rays and neutrons attenuation study using ParShield/WinXCOM program and Geant4 and Penelope codes

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Vol. 126; no. 4
• Main Authors: Lakshminarayana, G., Elmahroug, Y., Kumar, Ashok, Dong, M. G., Lee, Dong-Eun, Yoon, Jonghun, Park, Taejoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-04-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorption cross sections; Applied physics; Atomic properties; Attenuation coefficients; Bismuth oxides; Bismuth trioxide; Boron oxides; Cesium 137; Cesium isotopes; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Codes; Coherent scattering; Condensed Matter Physics; Electron density; Energy; Energy absorption; Gamma rays; Incoherent scattering; Lithium oxides; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Mathematical analysis; Nanotechnology; Neutrons; Nuclear cross sections; Optical and Electronic Materials; Penetration depth; Photons; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Radiation shielding; Scattering cross sections; Sodium 22; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thermal neutrons; Thin Films; ParShield; Total neutron cross-section; Mass attenuation coefficient; Lithium bismuth borate glass; Geant4; Penelope
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-020-3418-7

For 25 Li
2
O–(75 − 
x
) B
2
O
3
–
x
Bi
2
O
3
(where
x 
= 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 mol%) glasses, gamma-ray and neutrons attenuation features were explored by theoretical approach using ParShield/WinXCOM program, Geant4, and Penelope codes. At
133
Ba (276, 303, 356, and 384 keV),
22
Na (511 and 1280 keV),
137
Cs (662 keV),
54
Mn (835 keV), and
60
Co (1170 and 1330 keV) photon peaks, for all samples, mass attenuation coefficient (
μ
/
ρ
), effective atomic number (
Z
eff
), effective electron density (
N
eff
), half-value layer (HVL), and mean free path (MFP) parameters have been evaluated using ParShield/WinXCOM program. The
μ
/
ρ
values computed by WinXCOM, Geant4, and Penelope codes were compared to check the accuracy, and satisfactory agreement among the values was identified. Moreover, using G
–
P fitting method as a function of penetration depth (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 mfp) within the photon energy range of 0.015–15 MeV, exposure buildup factor (EBF) and energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) were derived. For all selected glasses, the effectiveness of the neutrons attenuation has been discussed in terms of macroscopic effective removal cross-section (
Σ
R
), coherent scattering cross-section (
σ
cs
), incoherent scattering cross-section (
σ
ics
), absorption cross-section (
σ
A
), and total neutron cross-section (
σ
T
). The ‘
σ
T
’ values have been calculated within 10
−4
–10
−8
 MeV neutron energy range using the Geant4 code. The
μ
/
ρ
possessed larger values at the lowest energy and lower values at higher energy regions for all studied glasses. The
μ
/
ρ
,
Z
eff
, HVL, and MFP values showed enhanced γ-ray shielding capability with Bi
2
O
3
content increment in the samples. The 25 Li
2
O–35 B
2
O
3
–40 Bi
2
O
3
(mol%) sample by having larger
Z
eq
and/or
Z
eff
value, faired lower EBF and EABF values. Largest
μ
/
ρ
and
Z
eff
, and minimal HVL, MFP, EBF, and EABF values of 25 Li
2
O–35 B
2
O
3
–40 Bi
2
O
3
(mol%) glass demonstrated its superior γ-ray attenuation ability among all examined glasses. Further, among all glasses, 25 Li
2
O–75 B
2
O
3
(mol%) sample exhibits relatively higher
Σ
R
(0.11326 cm
−1
) and ‘
σ
T
’ (46.109 cm
−1
 → 0.84607 cm
−1
from 1 × 10
−8
 MeV → 1×10
−4
 MeV neutron energy) values for fast and thermal neutrons attenuation, respectively, indicating its better neutrons absorption competence.