Abstract:
Current research investigated the performance of phosphor-silicate glasses as gamma-ray shields. The mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) of the chosen glasses were determined using the both Phy-x/PSD and WinXcom codes. From the results obtained, both approaches yield (μ/ρ) values that are found to be in good agreement with each other. These values are then used to compute the half-value layer, effective atomic number, mean free path, and energy exposure buildup factors. Taken from the results, the EBFs for the current glasses were observed to be small in the low energy region (in order of unity at E ¼ 0.015 MeV) and then reach maximum value for all glasses at 40 mfp in the high-photon energy region. The obtained results have been contrasted with that of window glasses and a few common shielding concretes. It was found that the chosen glasses are highly effective in gamma shielding applications, as indicated by the lower mean free path values.
