Evaluation of optical features and ionizing radiation shielding competences of TeO2–Li2O (TL) glasses via Geant4 simulation code and Phy-X/PSD program

Via this article, the optical features and ionizing radiation shielding competences of xTeO2 − (100 − x)Li2O, where x = 70 to 95 in steps of 5 mol% glasses to be used in nuclear shielding areas were evaluated. These glasses were coded as TL05-TL30 according to x value. Refractive index (noptical), molar (refractivity (Rmolar) and polarizability (αmolar)), reflection loss (Rloss), Optical transmission factor (Toptical), dielectric constants (εstatic and εoptical), and metallization criterion (Mcriterion) of TL-glasses have been investigated. The mass (MAC) and linear (LAC) attenuation coefficients were examined via Geant4 toolkit simulation code and verified via Phy-X/PSD. Results revealed that the (noptical) was increased from 2.24 to 2.30. The Rmolar varied from 17.432 to 19.122 (cm3/mol), the αmolar increased from 6.917 to 7.588 (×10−24 cm3), and the (εstatic) varied from 5.022 to 5.308. The TL30 glasses possess the lowest values, while TL05 found to possess the maximum MAC values. The MAC values were in the order of (MAC)TL05 > (MAC)TL10 > (MAC)TL15 > (MAC)TL20 > (MAC)TL25 > (MAC)TL30 which highlights the role of Te addition to the glass matrix to enhance the shielding capacity of theses glasses. The HVL of these TL-glasses can be arranged in reverse order with MAC, where (HVL)TL30 > (HVL)TL25 > (HVL)TL20 > (HVL)TL15 > (HVL)TL10 > (HVL)TL05. The highest Zeff values are found at the low photon energy and ranged from 48.91 to 49.47 at 0.015 MeV for TL30 and TL05, respectively. While at 15 MeV, Zeff values are found 28.42 and 32.97 for TL30 and TL05, respectively. The TL05 glass with the highest TeO2 ratio has the largest Zeq values. The TL05 glass owns very low values of energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) and exposure buildup factor (EBF). This indicates that the TL05 sample was more effective than other samples in absorbing gamma radiation. One can conclude that the investigated TL-glasses have high ability to attenuate gamma-ray, especially TL05 glass sample. Therefore, these glasses can be applied in the field of nuclear protection.