Radiological parameters of bismuth oxide glasses using the Phy-X/PSD software

Abstract

Radiation physics and dosimetry have recently been very popular in physics due to their extended utilizations in different scientific studies. This is important for radiation protection issues, particularly for gamma rays, as their shielding is more difficult than that of other radiation types. The radiation-shielding properties of any materials may be obtained by experimental work, but mostly, it is easy to predict these by using simulation codes. Monte Carlo simulation is a good way to predict some parameters, particularly when it is impossible to perform an experiment. Besides other materials, glasses are interesting materials, and it is vital to investigate their radiation-shielding properties. In the present study, some radiological parameters such as linear attenuation coefficients, mass attenuation coefficients, mean free path, half-value length, tenth value length, effective atomic number (Z eff ), electron density (N eff ), equivalent atomic number (Z eq ), exposure build-up factor and fast neutron removal cross-section were calculated using the Phy-X/PSD code for waste soda–lime–silica-based glasses.