Estimation of gamma-rays, and fast and the thermal neutrons attenuation characteristics for bismuth tellurite and bismuth boro-tellurite glass systems

Abstract

Gamma-rays and fast and thermal neutron attenuation features of (Bi2O3)x–(TeO2)(100−x) (where x = 5, 8, 10, 12, and 15 mol%) and [(TeO2)0.7–(B2O3)0.3](1−x)–(Bi2O3)x (where x = 0.05, 0.10, 0,15, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.3 mol%) glass systems have been explored and compared. For all samples, mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) are estimated within 0.015–15 MeV photon energy range by MCNP5 simulation code and correlated with WinXCom results, which showed a satisfactory agreement between computed μ/ρ values by these both methods. Additionally, effective atomic number (Zeff), effective electron density (Neff), half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL), mean free path (MFP), total atomic cross-section (σa), and total electronic cross-section (σe) are calculated by utilizing μ/ρ values. The μ/ρ, Zeff, and Neff are energy dependent and have higher values at the lowest energy and smaller values at higher energies. Moreover, using the G–P fitting method as a function of penetration depth (up to 40 mfp) and incident photon energy (0.015–15 MeV range), exposure buildup factors (EBFs) and energy absorption buildup factors (EABFs) are evaluated. Both 85TeO2–15Bi2O3 (mol%) and 49TeO2–21B2O3–30Bi2O3 (mol%) samples, by possessing higher values of Zeff, exhibit minimum EBF and EABF values. Highest μ/ρ, Zeff values and lowest HVL, TVL, MFP values of 49TeO2–21B2O3–30Bi2O3 (mol%) sample indicated its better gamma-ray absorption capability among all selected glasses. Further, macroscopic effective removal cross-section for fast neutrons (ΣR), coherent scattering cross-section (σcs), incoherent scattering cross-section (σics), absorption cross-section (σA), and total cross-section (σT) values for thermal neutron attenuation have been computed. Among all samples, 49TeO2–21B2O3–30Bi2O3 (mol%) glass possesses a better ΣR value for fast neutron attenuation, while the largest ‘σT’ value of 66.5TeO2–28.5B2O3–5Bi2O3 (mol%) sample suggests its good thermal neutron absorption efficiency.