Radiation shielding properties of gallium alloys

Abstract

Consideration of the photon interaction in the target medium is not sufficient for the estimation of absorbed dose in the different organs from a source of photons. For the accurate absorbed dose calculation specific absorbed fraction of energy is required. It is defined as the ratio of the energy absorbed by the target to the energy emitted by the source. The calculation of specific absorbed fraction of energy depends on the buildup factor values and the interaction of secondary electrons. X-rays and gamma rays undergo scattering on entering a medium, thus the energy gets degraded, due to which secondary radiation are produced. These secondary radiations can be calculated using buildup factor. Gallium alloys are less toxic and cost effective material compared to lead. Due to the importance of Gallium alloys in radiation shielding, the study of an interaction of X-rays and gamma radiation in these alloys becomes important.In the present work we have investigated the energy exposure buildup factors (EBF) and specific absorbed fraction (SAF) of energy for some gallium alloys such as Gallium alloy [Al-50%, Ga-50%], Galfenol [Fe-30%, Ga-70%] and Galinstan [Ga-68.5%, In-21.5%, Sn-10%]. With the increase in the penetration depth, the value of buildup factors increases. It is observed that the values of exposure buildup factors and Specific absorbed fraction of energy are larger for the gallium alloy Galinstan than the other studied gallium alloys. From this work it is clear that among the studied gallium alloys, in Galinstan absorption of X-rays and gamma radiations more compared to other studied alloys. Hence, we can conclude that the gallium alloy Galinstan is a good absorber of X-rays and gamma radiation among the studied gallium alloys. This work is useful in the shielding of radiation.