Comparison of different glass materials to protect the operators from gamma-rays in the PET using MCNP code

Abstract

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is one of the new procedures utilized for indicative molecular imaging. When the positrons interact with the body to produce gamma rays, the PET machine can detect the photons. Operators can expose to those photons, so they use separation glass between the patient and the operator. In the past lead has been utilized as radiation shielding materials. Nonetheless, it shows that lead harmfulness is a significant ecological sickness, and its consequences for the human body are obliterating. Hence there is an earnest need to track down an alternative radiation shielding material to protect the human and the climate from the dangerous effect of radiation. In this research, high density and high linear attenuation coefficient materials, such as silicate glasses (containing, BiO or BaO or PbO), BZBB5, and zinc oxide soda-lime-silica G6 glass, were investigated. This paper shows simulations using the Monte Carlo method by MCNP 6 on lead and lead-free glasses to define the best lead-free alternative glass for protecting the operator from the 0.511 MeV gamma rays by determining the absorbed dose that the operator can expose to it. In this research, linear attenuation coefficient, percentage of transmitted photons, and absorbed dose were investigated for the proposed materials. The results showed well agreement with the theoretical data available commercially. The results also showed variance in the absorbed dose response at varying the material for the separation glass between the operator and the patient.