Study of the radiation attenuation properties of MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-Li2O-Na2O glass system

Understanding the radiation attenuation properties (RAPs) of different glass systems is essential to select a suitable candidate for the shielding applications in various medical and nuclear sites. In this work, the RAPs of MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-Li2O-Na2O (MASLN) glass system were investigated by means of FLUKA simulations with several parameters adjusted on XCOM calculations. To model the radiation propagation through the present glass systems, the narrow beam geometry was implemented. The findings obtained by FLUKA simulations were in agreement with those computed by XCOM. The obtained results reveal that the self-attenuation correction factor is most significant at low energies as its value decreases as photon energy grows. Moreover, the present glasses are also potential shields in emerging nuclear radiation applications where low-energy photons are utilized and low cost and light shields are required. Finally, the FLUKA modeling paves a promising approach to further studies in the field of radiation and its applications.

Automated summary

Understanding the radiation attenuation properties of different glass systems is crucial for selecting suitable shielding materials in medical and nuclear facilities. The FLUKA simulations of MASLN glass system show good agreement with XCOM calculations, indicating potential for low-cost light shields in emerging nuclear radiation applications. This study paves the way for further research in the field of radiation and its applications.