Evaluating the optical and gamma-ray protection properties of bismo-tellurite sodium titanium zinc glasses

Abstract

Optical properties and gamma-ray attenuation competence of bismo-tellurite sodium titanium zinc glass samples with chemical formula (80 − x)TeO₂–10ZnO–5TiO₂–5Na₂O–xBi₂O₃, where x = 5, 8, 10, 12, and 15 mol% have been explored. Values of optical electronegativity (χ^*) were varied from 0.715 for B5 glass sample to 0.677 for B15 glass sample. Values of linear dielectric susceptibility (χ⁽¹⁾) were varied from 0.400 for B5 glass sample to 0.430 for glass sample. Values of non-linear optical susceptibility (χ³) and non-linear refractive index \(\left({n}_{2}^{\mathrm{optical}}\right)\) were varied from 4.379 × 10⁻¹² to 5.812 × 10⁻¹² (esu) and from 6.719 × 10¹¹ to 8.656 × 10⁻¹¹ (esu) for B5 and B15 glasses, respectively. The B15 sample with the highest Bi₂O₃ content had the maximum mass attenuation coefficient (µ_m) values across all examined photon energies, while B5 sample with the lowest Bi₂O₃ content had the minimum (µ_m). Both half-value layer (T_0.5) and mean free path (λ) followed the trend as follows: (T_0.5, λ)_B5 > (T_0.5, λ)_B8 > (T_0.5, λ)_B10 > (T_0.5, λ)_B12 > (T_0.5, λ)_B15. The exposure and energy absorption buildup factor (EBF and EABF) values decrease from B5 to B15, demonstrating that the shielding enhancement of glass samples has strengthened. The effective atomic number (Z_eff) parameter followed the trend as follows: (Z_eff)_B15 > (Z_eff)_B12 > (Z_eff)_B10 > (Z_eff)_B8 > (Z_eff)_B5. Our findings confirm that the enhancement of Bi₂O₃ content in the bismo-tellurite sodium titanium zinc glass samples plays an important role of improvement in both optical and gamma-ray protection properties.