A broad analysis of directly and indirectly ionizing radiation interaction parameters of PbF₂-CaF₂-Bi₂O₃-B₂O₃-Cr₂O₃ glass system

Abstract This study presents the shielding parameters for directly and indirectly ionisation radiation of PCBBC glasses with the chemical composition: xPbF2–(25-x)CaF2–49.8B2O3–25Bi2O3–0.2Cr2O3 and coded as PCBBC1 – PCBBC4 for x= 0, 5, 15, and 25 respectively. Photon shielding coefficients were estimated by Monte Carlo simulation method via FLUKA code and by XCOM calculations for energies ranging from 0.1 – 10 MeV. In addition, the total stopping powers (TSP) and projected range (R) of electron (e^(-1)), proton (p^+), alpha particle (α), and carbon ion (C^+)) were used to investigate the shielding ability of the glasses against charged particles while fast "Σ" _"R" and thermal σT neutron cross sections were also estimated for the investigated glasses. For PCBBC1 – PCBBC4, linear (mass) attenuation coefficient varies from 16.346 (3.571) – 0.170 (0.037), 17.151 (3.723) – 0.173 (0.038), 20.128 (3.987) – 0.194 (0.038), and 22.972 (4.209) – 0.213 cm-1 (0.039 cm2g-1) respectively. At the peak energy, half value layer was 3.879, 3.782, 3.343, and 3.013 cm corresponding to PbF2 molar content increase from 0 – 25% in the PCBBC glasses. Generally, effective atomic number (electron density) Z_eff(N_eff) vary with energy within the range of 18.49 -71.75 (2.93 – 11.37), 19.35 – 72.68 (2.92 – 10.98), 21.04 – 74.18 (2.91 – 10.25), and 22.70 – 75.34 (2.89 9.600 N_A electrons/g). values of TSP and R follows the order: PCBBC1 > PCBBC2 > PCBBC3 > PCBBC4. "Σ" _"R" changed from 0.09989 – 0.10358 cm-1 with PCBBC4 having the maximum value while σT grows from 95.14954 – 113.45969 cm-1 for PCBBC1 – PCBBC4 respectively. Compared to conventional glass shields PCBBC4 glass possess superior shielding ability and it is a potential material for radiation shielding applications in emerging radiation-based technology.