Mass Attenuation Coefficient Values Research Articles

Effect of ZrO2 on Radiation Shielding Properties of xZrO2-(55-x) B2O3-15Bi2O3-10MgO-20PbO Glass: XCOM and Phy-X/PSD Database Software

This paper aims to determine the effect of ZrO2 on the parameters of glass-based radiation shielding with the molecular formula xZrO2-(55-x)B2O3-15Bi2O3-10MgO-20PbO (mole fraction, x= 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 mol%). The parameters tested include Mass Attenuation Coefficients (MAC), Linear Attenuation Coefficient (LAC), Half-Value Layer (HVL), Tenth-Value Layer (TVL), Mean Free Path (MFP), and Effective Atomic Number (Zeff), which are measured using the XCOM and Phy-X/PSD programs in the energy range between 0.015 MeV and 15 MeV. The MAC values ​​obtained for all samples are between 0.0439-76.4100 cm2/g for 0ZrO, 0.0440-75.9300 cm2/g for 4ZrO, 0.0441-75.4700 cm2/g for 8ZrO, 0.0443-75.0200 cm2/g for 12ZrO, 0.0444-74.5800 cm2/g for 16ZrO. The difference in results between XCOM and Phy-X/PSD is very small, less than 0.1%. Compared with commercial shields such as RS-253-G18 glass shield and 40% synthetic borax radiation shield, ZrO2-based glass shield has better radiation capability. The 16ZrO sample has the best quality among all ZrO2-based glass shield samples at various radiation photon energies. This study is expected to be a reference in making glass radiation shields in further experiments. Keywords: Radiation Shielding, Zirconium Oxide, Bi2O3, XCOM, Phy-X/PSD, S

Exploring HgO Effect on Structural, Dielectric, Optical, and Radiation Shielding Properties of Borate-based Glass

Abstract Glass samples in the system 60-xB2O3+20BaO+20K2O+xHgO (0≤x≤15 mol.%) were prepared via melt quenching method. Infrared spectroscopy revealed structural modifications with increasing HgO content, characterized by a shift in the BO4/BO3 ratio. Dielectric and impedance spectroscopy studies indicated enhanced ionic conductivity with higher HgO concentrations. Optical properties, including refractive index, extinction coefficient, and optical band gap, were determined. The optical absorption edge exhibited a red shift with increasing HgO, attributed to structural changes. Refractive index measurements showed an anomalous dispersion behavior at shorter wavelengths, followed by normal dispersion at longer wavelengths. Optical band gap calculations indicated a decrease with increasing HgO content, suggesting increased disorder. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) and linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) were calculated using the Phy-X/PSD software. Increasing HgO content led to a significant enhancement in both MAC and LAC values, particularly at lower energies. The mean free path (MFP) exhibited a corresponding decrease with higher HgO content. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of these glasses as effective radiation shielding materials.

Enhanced physical, optical and radiation shielding properties of tungsten modified potassium boro-tellurite glass systems: Theoretical approach

Boro-tellurite glasses in the (70-x) B2O3–5TeO2–10Bi2O3–10SrCO3–5K2CO3-xWO3 system, with varying WO3 content (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mol %), were synthesized using the melt quenching technique. The effectiveness of radiation protection was assessed using the Phy-X/PSD tool across a broad energy spectrum ranging from 15 keV to 15 MeV. The results indicated that the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values increased proportionally with the concentration of WO₃ in the glass samples. At approximately 0.015 MeV, the MAC reached its maximum for all glass compositions, ranging from 45.822 g cm−2 for BW1 to 51.258 g cm−2 for BW5. However, beyond 15 keV, a notable decrease in MAC values was observed, primarily attributed to the dominance of photoelectric interactions at lower energy levels. Furthermore, the effective atomic number (Zeff) ranged from 64.08 to 65.44, with a peak observed at 15 keV. Beyond this energy, the Zeff values for all the produced glass samples showed a marked decrease as the energy of gamma photons increased, mirroring the trend observed in the MAC values. Conversely, the half-value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) exhibited a consistent reduction. A comparative analysis of the MFP of the glass samples with other shielding materials demonstrated that the BW5 glass exhibited superior performance at 1.50 MeV. These findings highlight the potential of the BW5 glass sample for radiation shielding applications, which has the highest WO₃ content and density, positioning it as a promising material for future radiation protection technologies.

Zinc boro-aluminosilicate glass for infrared and gamma sensing applications: Physical properties and gamma ray attenuation aspects

The demand for more materials for efficient shielding of radiation has been on the rise day by day due to some witnessed progress in applications of radiations in science and technology. In this research, we investigated the gamma ray shielding capacity of zinc boro-aluminosilicate (ZBASi) glass by varying concentrations of B2O3. Fundamentally, experimental and theoretical means were both adopted to evaluate photon shielding characteristics of the studied glasses. Additionally, amorphous nature and crystalline sizes of the glass sample were determined using XRD technique and Debye Scherrer equation respectively. The results show that as the B2O3 content increased from 55 to 70 wt %, the optical bandgap, and packing density decreased. However, the density, and molar volume were found to increase accordingly. Using Phy-x/PSD and genat4, the maximum values of mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) for ZBASi-4, ZBASi-3, ZBASi-2, and ZBASi-1 were found to be 20.2, 17.5, 16.3, and 9.6 cm2/g at 20 KeV, respectively. With respect to exposure rate, the exposure buildup factor (EBF) is low in the region where density is high, meaning that photon attenuation power is high in the region of low EFB (high density). The production of aluminosilicate glass poses fewer environmental risks than that of traditional lead-based shielding materials. It is therefore a more environmentally friendly option since harmful heavy metals are not involved.

Gamma attenuation and radiation shielding performance of CaCu3B2Re2O12 (B[dbnd]Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) perovskites

In order to identify the importance of perovskites in nuclear science, studies aimed at obtaining the radiation interaction quantities of perovskites are essential. This study computed and analyzed the gamma photon interaction parameters of CaCu3B2Re2O12 (BMn, Fe, Co, and Ni) perovskites to reveal their shielding potentials and comparative advantages against traditional shielding materials. Four samples of ferrimagnetic quaternary perovskites whose chemical structures are summarized as CaCu3B2Re2O12 (BMn (CCMRO1), Fe (CCMRO2), Co (CCMRO3), and Ni (CCMRO4)) were considered for their gamma interaction quantities. The values of mass attenuation coefficient (μρ) was calculated with XCOM and they were in the range of 0.0552 cm2/g–0.4162 cm2/g for CCMRO1, 0.0553 cm2/g–0.4165 cm2/g CCMRO2, 0.0552 cm2/g–0.4148 cm2/g for CCMRO3, and 0.0555 cm2/g–0.4163 cm2/g for CCMRO4. The values of effective atomic number and electron density was within the range 21.38–43.38 and 2.84 x 1023 electrons/g −5.62 x1023 electrons/g, respectively. The trend of the mass energy absorption coefficients of the perovskites was also found to be in the same order as the mass attenuation coefficient. CCMRO3 has the highest photon energy absorptive ability among the perovskites while CCMRO2 has the least capacity. Also, the gamma dose rates in15 mm thick of CCMRO1, CCMRO2, CCMRO3, and CCMRO4 for 1.25 MeV are about 1446 kR/h, 1449 kR/h, 1453 kR/h, and 1446 kR/h, respectively. Comparatively, the values of the exposure and energy absorption buildup factors were almost the same for the perovskites at the same energy and optical depth. The investigated perovskites had higher mass attenuation coefficients that standard shielding glasses. The perovskites can be used for shielding or any other radiation absorption roles in radiation science and technology, especially for photons at low energies.

Optical transmission, dielectric constants, and gamma shielding performance of Se95-xIn5Prx metallic alloys: Radiation protection applications

Due to the high density of metals, metallic materials such as alloys have the potential to have high gamma-radiation-absorbing abilities. This would make them relevant in a radiation environment as either a shielding material or a radiation sensor. These would, however, depend on their gamma radiation responses. Research aimed at evaluating the gamma response parameters of different glassy alloys that have technical applications is scarce compared to the traditional characterization with respect to optical features, structural evolution, and mechanical strength. In this paper, the optical and radiation shielding abilities of Se95-xIn5Prx (x = 2, 4, and 6) glassy alloys were investigated using standard theoretical techniques. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) of the materials was computed using the XCOM software. Reflection loss values are 0.20218, 0.22634, and 0.22908 for SIPr1, SIPr2, and SIPr3, respectively, while the optical transmittance values are 0.66365, 0.63087, and 0.62723 in the same order. The metallization criterion declined when Pr increased in the alloy. The values of MAC ranged from 0.0317 cm2/g to 98.2099 cm2/g for SIPr1, 0.0319 cm2/g to 97.3798 cm2/g for SIPr2 and 0.0322 cm2/g to 96.5372 cm2/g for SIPr3. The Higher attenuation and absorption coefficients were found for Pr-rich alloys. Pr therefore increase the ability of the SIPr-alloy to attenuate and absorb photon energy. The optical parameters of the investigated alloys could be used to identify their optical applications. SIPr3 had comparatively higher shielding ability compared to some known shields and could thus be used for radiation control and protection purposes.

Physical, thermal and radiation attenuation ability of Gd2O3 infused NaF - B2O3 - Bi2O3 - Sm2O3 glasses

In the present paper, 10NaF - (59-x)B2O3 - xGd2O3 - 30Bi2O3 - 1Sm2O3, where x = 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 mol% glass system has been synthesized by melt quenching route. The density of G0.0 is 4.460 g/cm3 and reached 5.224 g/cm3 at the G7.5 sample with a molar surplus of Gd2O3. There is an increment in oxygen packing density (63.867 – 67.001 mol/cm3) and a decrement in oxygen molar volume (15.658 – 14.925 cm3/mol) discloses the tightly packed structure of the studied glasses. Moreover, enhancing field strength (1.346 – 1.523 × 1017 cm2) confirms the compactness of present oxyfluoride glasses. The linear attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number (Zeff) increase with the concentration of Gd2O3. The 7.5 mol% Gd2O3 doped glass sample exhibits a higher value of mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) as compared to the other reported glasses. The exposure buildup factor increases as the penetration depth of the material increases. Half value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) decrease as Gd2O3 concentration increases in the glass network. The G7.5 glass demonstrates the lowest value in the half value layer and the highest value in the neutron removal cross-section. Therefore, prepared glasses show good performance in neutron and gamma-radiation shielding.

Influence of TiO2 content on the radiation shielding properties of the La2O3-B2O3-Gd2O3-Nb2O5-ZrO2-SiO2 glasses

This paper aims to study the radiation shielding properties of lanthanide glasses, according to the formula xTiO2-51La2O3-(24-x) B2O3–8Gd2O3-8Nb2O5-6ZrO2-3SiO2 (x= 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, wt.%). Using FLUKA Monte Carlo code, the mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), half-value layers (HVL), and effective atomic numbers (Zeff) of the lanthanide glasses were estimated at medical diagnostic energies (between 20 and 150 keV). The MACs of the glasses are between 0.5183 and 24.407 cm2/g for 0Ti, 0.5215-24.788 cm2/g for 4Ti, 0.5193-25.161 cm2/g for 8Ti, 0.5163-25.529 cm2/g for 12Ti, and 0.5183-25.916 cm2/g for 16Ti. These results are consistent with the Phy-X theoretical database (with a percentage difference below 3 %). The lanthanide glasses showed good photon shielding ability compared to lead concrete, and RS-360 & RS-253-G18 commercial glasses, commonly used shielding materials. In this work, 16Ti possesses the highest, lowest, and highest values of MAC, HVL, and Zeff, respectively, at the various energies investigated, which implies that the 16Ti sample has better shielding performance. All in all, this work demonstrated that adding TiO2 to the glass samples could provide preferable shielding features.

Optical parameters and gamma shielding quality of sodium-borate glasses: The relative contribution of Bi2O3, SrO, and Li2O

The optical quality and compositional flexibility of borate glasses make them attractive materials for optical applications, nuclear waste containment, transparent radiation shields and many other applications in the nuclear and allied industries. This study presents the physical, optical, and gamma transmission data of the sodium borate glass structure: 75B2O3 – 15Na2O – 9.5x – 0.5Nd2O3; for x = Bi2O3 (BiNd), SrO (SrNd), and Li2O (LiNd). The glasses were prepared using the traditional melt-and-quench technique. The influence of Bi2O3, SrO, and Li2O on the physical attributes, optical constants, and gamma radiation interaction coefficients was probed using standard laboratory procedures and software. The density of BiNd, SrNd, and LiNd was 3.32, 2.43, and 2.24 g/cm3, respectively. The molar volume of the glasses followed the trend: BiNd > SrNd > LiNd. The optical constants of the glasses, such as refractive index, metallization criterion, molar refractivity, molar polarizability, reflectance loss, and optical transmission, showed a wide fluctuation with respect to glass composition. The values of the gamma mass attenuation coefficients for 15 keV–15 MeV photons were in the range 0.0316–45.0225 cm2/g for BiNd, 0.0206–5.4940 cm2/g for SrNd, and 0.0184–3.4603 cm2/g for LiNd. Generally, density has a positive correlation with the gamma absorption prowess of the investigated xNd glasses. A correlation between the optical and shielding parameters was highlighted in this study. The xNd glasses, especially SrNd and BiNd, are preferred as transparent radiation protection barriers, in contrast to some conventional Pb-based glasses, from environmental and public health perspectives. This glass composition is therefore unique and its properties are essentially useful in optical and radiation technologies.

Radiation shielding properties of gold nanoparticle-dispersed bismuth borate glasses using Phy-X/PSD software

With the increasing use of radioactive materials in various sectors, effective radiation shielding has become a critical concern. The present study explores the potential of bismuth borate glasses doped with gold nanoparticles for gamma-ray shielding applications. Glass samples with a base composition of 30Bi2O3:70B2O3, containing varying concentrations of 10 nm gold nanoparticles, were synthesized using the melt quenching technique. The physical and morphological properties of the samples were characterized, confirming the presence of uniformly dispersed gold nanoparticles of size (4 nm) smaller than the size of precursor nanoparticles. Shielding parameters, including mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), half value layer (HVL), ten value layer (TVL), mean free path (MFP), and effective atomic number (Zeff), were analyzed using the Phy-X/PSD program. Results showed that the obtained highest MAC value is 155.864 cm2/g which is superior to other reported materials. The HVL and TVL values increased with the increase in energy range, indicating effective gamma-ray shielding potential. These findings suggest that optimizing the dispersion and concentration of gold nanoparticles in bismuth borate glasses could enhance their performance as radiation shielding materials, making them promising candidates for various applications.

Indirect effect of elevated pressure via the modulations of crystals intrinsic parameters on radiation shielding efficacy: A comparative study between two α-quartz homeotypes SiO2and GeO2

This study investigates the indirect effects of elevated pressure on the radiation shielding competence of two α-quartz homeotypes, SiO2 and GeO2, by examining the modulations of their crystal intrinsic tetrahedral parameters. The study focuses on structural modifications and their correlations with radiation attenuation properties. The results show that both homeotypes exhibit energy-dependent mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) and linear attenuation coefficients (LAC). SiO2 demonstrates higher transparency to incident radiation compared to GeO2, with a relative difference in MAC values of 91% at 0.015 MeV, decreasing to 28% at 15 MeV. However, within the energy range of 0.4 < E < 4 MeV, SiO2 exhibits higher MAC values than GeO2, with the MAC of SiO2 surpassing GeO2 by 17% at 0.4 MeV. The pressure dependence of LAC values indicates that both SiO2 and GeO2 become more effective in attenuating radiation under higher pressure conditions. For instance, at 0.015 MeV, the LAC of GeO2 increased from 274.826 cm−1 at 0.001 GPa to 308.073 cm−1 at 5.57 GPa. GeO2 generally exhibits higher LAC values than SiO2 across the energy and pressure ranges studied. It can be concluded that the structural modifications induced by elevated pressure significantly enhance the radiation shielding capabilities of α-quartz homeotypes, particularly GeO2, making them promising candidates for advanced shielding materials in various high-radiation environments.

Investigation of the gamma ray shielding properties of Epoxy based on Bi2O3/GO nanocomposite

Abstract One of the important carbon materials, graphene oxide (GO), has several oxygen-containing functional groups. Due to its unique structure, it has attracted increasing interest in multidisciplinary studies of physical and chemical attributes. In this work, Bismuth Oxide nanoparticles (Bi2O3) is prepared and functionalized with graphene oxide nanosheets (Bi2O3-GO). The Bi2O3 and Bi2O3-GO nanocomposite were mixed with epoxy by changing the percentages to 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%. The study used a hyper-pure germanium detector to investigate the attenuation characteristics of the prepared samples. Ba133, Cs137, and Co60 point sources were used at photon energies of 81, 276, 302, 356, and 383 keV for Ba133, 661 keV for Cs137, and 1173 and 1332 keV for Co60. The linear attenuation coefficient, mass attenuation coefficient, half-value layer, and tenth-value layer were estimated to investigate the radiation shielding characteristics of the prepared samples. The linear attenuation coefficient (μ) values varied from 0.45 to 0.88, 0.23 to 0.89, and 0.31 to 0.77 for Ba133, Cs137, and Co60, respectively. The mass attenuation coefficient (μm) values varied from 0.18 to 0.50, 0.19 to 0.50, and 0.15 to 0.50 for Ba133, Cs137, and Co60, respectively. Half-value layer (HVL) values varied from 0.79 to 1.55, 0.78 to 3.07, and 0.9 to 2.26 for Ba133, Cs137, and Co60, respectively. Tenth-value layer (TVL) values varied from 2.61 to 5.16, 2.58 to 10.19, and 2.98 to 7.51 for Ba133, Cs137, and Co60, respectively.

Investigation on radiation shielding potentials of barium calcium aluminosilicate glass material using silicon carbide nanotubes reinforcement

This work investigated the gamma ray attenuation power of barium calcium aluminosilicate glass by using silicon carbide nanotube modifiers. Shielding efficiency of BaO–15CaO–5Al2O3–10B2O3–35SiO2 was investigated by adding different concentrations of silicon carbide nanotubes (10, 15, 20, 25 mol %). Amorphous and fine characteristics of the prepared glass materials were analyzed using XRD and FTIR techniques. In the results obtained, absence of sharp peaks in the XRD pattern revealed that the prepared glass was amorphous. Analysis of the radiation shielding properties was tested against gamma radiation by using PHY-X/PSD software. Various shielding parameters such as linear attenuation coefficient, mass attenuation coefficient, half value layer, tenth value layer, mean free path, and effective atomic number were determined to access the radiation shielding strength of the prepared samples. From the obtained results, composites of barium calcium aluminosilicate and silicon carbide nanotubes (sample 1) with higher values of mass attenuation coefficient (32.92 cm2/g) and effective atomic number (52.02) provided superior gamma ray attenuation. Results also revealed that the density and chemical composition of the prepared glass samples strongly influence photon interactions and weakly influence electronic interactions during the photon attenuation process. The results demonstrated that increasing the weight fractions of silicon carbide nanotubes in the glass samples increases the shielding properties.

Experimental study of gamma-ray attenuation capability of B2O3-ZnO-Na2O-Fe2O3 glass system

In the present work, a glass system with developed composition consisting of B2O3, ZnO, Na2O and Fe2O3 samples has been investigated. Glass samples were prepared using the melt quenching method and the density of the system was measured using Archimedes’ principle. Spectroscopic analysis using a gamma source and a high-purity germanium detector at four energies of 0.0595, 0.6617, 1.173, and 1.333 MeV emitted from Am-241, Cs-137, and Co-60 were used to determine the attenuation parameters of present glass composites. The sample containing 45 B2O3 + 10 Na2O + 40 ZnO + 5 Fe2O3 (coded BNZF-4) had the highest mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) value at all the energies discussed compared to the other composites. Whoever, the BNZF-1 sample had the lowest value at all ranges of energies. The transmission factors (TF, %) of the manufactured samples were calculated, at 0.0595 MeV (TF, %) values are 32.6429 and 6.4612 for samples BNZF-1 and BNZF-4, respectively. The statistical results demonstrated significantly better to increase the ZnO concentration in the sample, where the percentage of zinc oxide inside the prepared glass samples has the following direction BNZF -4 > BNZF -3 > BNZF -2 > BNZF -1. The significance of this study is that transparent, environmentally harmless glass composites with relatively high density have been prepared that can be used as shielding materials against gamma rays, especially at low energies.

Gamma attenuation and buildup factors of GeO2-Ga2O3–Gd2O3 transparent glass ceramics for shielding applications

While gamma radiation presents significant hazards, the development of reliable shielding materials is demanded. This research study aims to investigate the gamma attenuation and buildup factors of transparent glass ceramics with the composition described by the formula of 99 [60GeO2 + (40-y)Ga2O3 + yGd2O3] +1Nd2O3, with y = 13,15,17, and 19 mol%. The basic gamma attenuation factor, namely mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), is calculated theoretically by using WinXCOM. By using MAC values, obtained by WinXCOM, we estimated the other gamma attenuation factors such as effective atomic number (Zeff) and electron density (Neff). Moreover, the absorption parameters, such as mass energy-absorption coefficient (MEAC), and buildup factors are also evaluated. It is found that the highest Zeff values are observed at 0.015 MeV with the values of 37.648, 38.618, 39.577, and 40.528 for GN1, GN2, GN3, and GN4 respectively. Moreover, the Gd2O3 content has a significant effect to improve the attenuation capacity of the studied samples.

Experimental investigation of gamma-ray interaction parameters and buildup factors in lanthanide compounds: Insights into penetration depth

This experimental investigation focuses on the gamma-ray interaction parameters and the buildup factor in lanthanide compounds (CeO2, Ce(SO4)2, Dy2(SO4)3, C3O9Sm2, C3Gd2O9, Pr2O3). These compounds were exposed to weak radioactive gamma sources with energies of 356, 511, 662, 1173, 1275, and 1332 keV by adopting narrow and broad beam geometry experimental arrangements. The incident and transmitted radiation intensities were measured using a NaI (Tl) detector. Experimentally measured values of mass attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number of lanthanide compounds were found to be in precise agreement with theoretical values obtained from NIST XCOM and Direct-Zeff database respectively. Additionally, the experimentally determined buildup factor values were compared with energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) and exposure buildup factor (EBF) values obtained from Phy-X/PSD software, providing insights into the gamma-ray penetration depth in terms of mean free path (MFP). At 356 keV, the EABF analysis showed that most compounds had a penetration depth of around 8 mean free paths. In contrast, the EBF analysis indicated penetration depths exceeding 10 mean free paths for all compounds except Ce (SO4)2. This new approach holds immense potential for transformative advancements in medical diagnostics, therapy, and the development of innovative technologies in nuclear sciences.

Structural, optical, and radiation shielding properties of cyclosilicates crystals: Hirshfeld topological geometries

AbstractThis study explores the structural, radiation, and optical properties of cyclosilicates minerals (CMs), providing comprehensive analyses of molar volumes, densities, band gap values, and effective atomic numbers. The structural properties were found to be dependent on the correlations with the interatomic interactions derived from the analysis of Hirshfeld topological surfaces (HTSs) and their voids. In examining a broad energy spectrum from 0.015 to 15 MeV, the study focuses on mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) and linear mass attenuation coefficient (LAC). Results show that MAC values are the highest for the BaTi(SiO3)3 crystal, highlighting its superior γ‐ray attenuation capabilities among other CMs. The study finds that Hirshfeld volume, and surface ranged between 344.21 and 2640.98 Å3 and 388.91 and 1326.97 Å2, reveals distinct electron density distribution characteristics in CM materials. The study probes the impact of HTSs on structural (113 &lt; Vm &lt; 686 cm3/mol), optical (1.95 &lt; n &lt; 2.38), and radiation shielding (13.0 &lt; LAC &lt; 102.0 1/cm at E = 15.0 keV) values, demonstrating that altering the O…A (A = atom in the CM crystal) interactions align with the charge density, potentially tuning other physical values.

Gamma Radiation Shielding Efficiency of High Entropy Alloys: A Comparative Study

High entropy alloys (HEAs) represent a novel class of materials characterized by their unique composition of four or more principal elements in near-equiatomic ratios, offering exceptional properties for various applications. This study investigates the gamma radiation shielding parameters of selected HEAs, namely FeCoNiCrMn, TaNbHfZrTi, NbMoTaW, AlMoNbV, and NbTaTiV. Mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) were calculated by using EpiXS program over a photon energy range of 0.015-15 MeV and verified these results with the WinXCOM software. The findings reveal that the MAC values are highest at low photon energies due to the photoelectric effect, with notable peaks corresponding to the K-shell absorption edges of specific elements. The half-value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) values indicate that thicker HEA samples are required to achieve effective shielding at higher energies. Additionally, the effective atomic number (Zeff) and exposure buildup factors (EBF) were analyzed. The results demonstrate that NbMoTaW and TaNbHfZrTi, offer superior radiation shielding capabilities compared to conventional shielding materials, with higher usability in environments subjected to gamma radiation. These findings underscore the potential of HEAs in advanced shielding applications, emphasizing their role in enhancing safety and performance in high-demand sectors.

Exploring the structural, magnetic and shielding performance of Mn doped Yb2O3 and Eu2O3 nanostructures

Re2-xMnxO3 (ReYb or Eu, x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15) nanostructures were produced utilizing the sol-gel procedure. The crystal structure and microstructure of all samples were analyzed based on XRD measurements using the Rietveld profile approach. The lattice parameter, cation distribution of different cations between different crystallographic sites, bond lengths of different polyhedrons, crystallite size, micro-strain and distortion index of the different polyhedrons of the formed sample were determined. Mn cations were found to prefer the 8b sites of the cubic bixbyite structure. The average crystallite size decreased following doping, while the microstrain experienced a significant increase. The low temperature dependent magnetizations for Yb1.85Mn0.15O3 and Eu1.85M0.15O3 nanostructures under a magnetic field of 200 Oe were investigated. Curie–Weiss law was employed to determine the magnetic configuration of the samples. The values of the effective magnetic moments μeff are 4.89 μB and 3.77 μB for Yb1.85Mn0.15O3 and Eu1.85M0.15O3, whereas the calculated values are 4.531 μB and 3.535 μB, respectively. The shielding properties of Re2-xMnxO3 (ReYb or Eu) nanostructures were studied using the Phy-X/PSD simulation program. The linear attenuation coefficients (LAC) and mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) values of the Yb2-xMnxO3 samples are greater than those of the Eu2-xMnxO3 samples. The half value length (HVL) and tenth value length (TVL) values increased as Mn was added to Re1.85Mn0.15O3 nanostructures. Yb1.85Mn0.05O3 and Eu1.85Mn0.05O3 nanostructures have the highest mean free path (MFP) values of 3 cm and 4 cm, respectively, at an energy of 5 MeV. The exposure build-up factor (EBF), and energy absorption build-up factor (EABF) values affected by the host rare earth oxide and the amount of Mn doping. The Re1.85Mn0.15O3 nanostructures exhibit a greater capacity to absorb photons with lower energy rather than higher energy. Yb1.85Mn0.15O3 nanostructure demonstrates exceptional neutron shielding capacities.

Interpolation insights: Accurate mass attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number estimation in PbO and BaO doped borosilicate glasses

Interpolation techniques such as Piecewise Cubic Hermite Interpolating Polynomials (PCHIP) and Cubic Splines (CS) were used to estimate the mass attenuation coefficient values (MAC) and the effective atomic number values (Zeff) of borosilicate glasses doped with PbO and BaO. The mathematical models were used to obtain a function between the parameters and the energy of the incoming photons, to provide a better understanding of the glass system. The glasses had a composition of 10Na2O–15PbO-(65-x)B2O3–10SiO2-xBaO, where x = 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mol%. The derived values were compared against theoretical data obtained from Phy-X, to determine the accuracy of the mathematical models. The results demonstrate that both the CS and PCHIP methods are useful tools that can accurately be used to determine the MAC and Zeff values of the investigated samples. For instance, at certain energies such as 0.103 MeV, the relative difference between the MAC values obtained through PCHIP and through Phy-X is as low as 0.07, demonstrating the effectiveness of the PCHIP model at these energies. The same is true for the Zeff values, where the same relative difference at 0.384 MeV is as low as 0.0002. Therefore, both the mathematical models demonstrate an effective ability at interpolating the MAC and Zeff values of the investigated glass system.