Gamma-ray interactions with ytterbium ions doped BLFB glasses for shielding applications

Abstract

The ytterbium (Yb3+) ions doped barium lithium fluoroborate (BLFB) glasses have been prepared with conventional melt quenching method and explored for nuclear radiation (γ-ray) shielding applications. The XRD analysis confirms the aperiodic nature of the glasses. The glass density was increased from 2.84 to 4.87 (gm/cm3) with the increase of Yb3+ content. The refractive index (n) increased from 1.544 to 1.599 while the molar volume (Vm) decreased from 27.656 to 17.458 (gm/cm−3) for 0.05YbBLFB to 2YbBLFB glasses. The optical packing density (OPD) increased from 9.943 to 15.751 (mol/cm3) while the electronic polarizability (αe) varied from 346.23 to 5.913 (10–22 cm3) for all glasses due to the increase of Yb3+ ions’ concentration. By employing the Phy-X/PSD program, γ-ray attenuation parameters such as linear attenuation coefficient (μ), mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), effective atomic number (Zeff), effective electron density (Neff), half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), and mean free path (MFP) were evaluated within the γ-ray energy range of 15 KeV–15 MeV. In addition, the geometric progression (G‒P) fitting method is used to investigate the exposure and energy absorption buildup factors (EBF and EABF) with discrete penetration depths (1–40 mfp) of all glasses. Also, the fast neutron removal cross-section (FNRCS) parameter is also estimated for all glasses. Therefore, among all the glasses, 2YbBLFB glass possesses higher μ/ρ, Zeff, Neff, Zeq values and lower HVL, TVL, and MFP values. And this glass is suggested for the best gamma-ray shielding applications.