Optical and radiation absorption properties of bismuth-borate glasses doped with Ce4+, Nd3+, and Sm3+

Three bismuth-borate glasses with the chemical configuration 15Bi2O3-75 H3BO2-10CeO2, 15Bi2O3-75 H3BO2-10Nd2O3, and 15Bi2O3-75 H3BO2-10Sm2O3 and coded as BHB-Ce, BHB-Nd, and BHB-Nd were investigated for their optical and gamma-radiation absorption behaviour. Optical parameters of the glasses such as the molar refractivity, Rm, molar polarizability, alpha m, reflection loss RL, optical transmission T, metallization criterion M, static dielectric constant epsilon static, and optical dielectric constant epsilon optical were calculated using standard theoretical models. The mass attenuation coefficient mu/rho of the glass samples was estimated by FLUKA simulations and XCOM for discrete photon beams with energies of 0.282, 0.662, 1.33, and 2.51 MeV. The value of Vm was 21.35, 22.61, and 19.60 cm3/mol for BHB-Ce, BHB-Nd, and BHB-Sm, respectively. Also, the highest Rm (16.52 cm3/mol) and alpha m (6.56 x10- 24 cm3) were obtained for BHB-Ce, while the lowest value was recorded for BHB-Nd (12.035 cm3/mol and 4.78 x10- 24 cm3). Other optical parameters varied with the dopant ion. The photon attenuation coefficient obtained from XCOM calculation and simulations agreed within a 2.90% margin. The mu/rho varied within the interval 0.0422-0.3086 cm2/g for BHB-Ce, 0.0420-0.3005 cm2/g for BHB-Nd and 0.0420-0.3029 cm2/g for BHB-Sm. The half-value layers (HVLs) vary from 0.3948 cm to 2.8854 cm for BHB-Ce, from 0.3782 cm to 2.7063 cm for BHB-Nd and from 0.3223 cm to 2.3252 cm for BHB-Sm. Based on the values of the photon shielding parameters, the investigated glasses showed better ability to absorb photons compared to conventional shields such as barite concrete, ordinary concrete, and some commercial glass shields. The analysis of the optical and radiation absorption parameters shows that the BHB-glasses are useful in optical and gamma-radiation absorption technologies.

Automated summary

Three bismuth-borate glasses with different dopant ions were studied for their optical and gamma-radiation absorption behavior. The optical parameters of the glasses were calculated using theoretical models, and the mass attenuation coefficient was estimated through simulations. The glasses showed better ability to absorb photons compared to conventional shields, indicating their potential in optical and gamma-radiation absorption technologies.