A comparative study of gamma-ray interaction and absorption in some building materials using Zeff-toolkit

The gamma-ray shielding behaviour of a material can be investigated by determining its various interaction and energy-absorption parameters (such as mass attenuation coefficients, mass energy absorption coefficients, and corresponding effective atomic numbers and electron densities). Literature review indicates that the effective atomic number (Z_eff) has been used as extensive parameters for evaluating the effects and defect in the chosen materials caused by ionising radiations (X-rays and gamma-rays). A computer program (Z_eff-toolkit) has been designed for obtaining the mean value of effective atomic number calculated by three different methods. A good agreement between the results obtained with Z_eff-toolkit, Auto_Z_eff software and experimentally measured values of Z_eff has been observed. Although the Z_eff-toolkit is capable of computing effective atomic numbers for both photon interaction (Z_eff,PI) and energy absorption (Z_eff,En) using three methods in each. No similar computer program is available in the literature which simultaneously computes these parameters simultaneously. The computed parameters have been compared and correlated in the wide energy range (0.001–20?MeV) for 10 commonly used building materials. The prominent variations in these parameters with gamma-ray photon energy have been observed due to the dominance of various absorption and scattering phenomena. The mean values of two effective atomic numbers (Z_eff,PI and Z_eff,En) are equivalent at energies below 0.002?MeV and above 0.3?MeV, indicating the dominance of gamma-ray absorption (photoelectric and pair production) over scattering (Compton) at these energies. Conversely in the energy range 0.002–0.3?MeV, the Compton scattering of gamma-rays dominates the absorption. From the 10 chosen samples of building materials, 2 soils showed better shielding behaviour than did other 8 materials.     

Gamma or X-rays attenuation properties of some biochemical compounds

The probability of gamma or X-ray interactions with important 14 antioxidants have been discussed for total photon interactions in the wide energy range of 1?keV–100?GeV using the WinXCOM code. The variations of mass attenuation coefficient (μ_ρ), effective atomic number (Z_eff) and electron density (N_el) with photon energy were plotted for total photon interactions. It was found that the values of μ_ρ, Z_eff and N_el depend on the incoming photon energy and chemical compositions of antioxidant. The highest values of these parameters were found at a low-energy zone where the photoelectric effect is the dominant interaction process. When antioxidants were compared with each other, it was seen that Z_eff has the highest values for Oenin chloride and Delphinidin chloride which contain the Cl element. This investigation is thought to be useful for medical applications where radiation exposure is present.     

Photon mass attenuation coefficients,effective atomic numbers and electron densities of some thermoluminescent dosimetric compounds

Photon mass attenuation coefficients of some thermoluminescent dosimetric (TLD) compounds, such as LiF, CaCO₃, CaSO₄, CaSO₄.2H₂O, SrSO₄, CdSO₄, BaSO₄, C₄H₆BaO₄ and 3CdSO₄.8H₂O were determined at 279.2, 320.07, 514.0, 661.6, 1115.5, 1173.2 and 1332.5 keV in a well-collimated narrow beam good geometry set-up using a high resolution, hyper pure germanium detector. The attenuation coefficient data were then used to compute the effective atomic number and the electron density of TLD compounds. The interpolation of total attenuation cross-sections of photons of energyE in elements of atomic numberZ was performed using the logarithmic regression analysis of the data measured by the authors and reported earlier. The best-fit coefficients so obtained in the photon energy range of 279.2 to 320.07 keV, 514.0 to 661.6 keV and 1115.5 to 1332.5 keV by a piece-wise interpolation method were then used to find the effective atomic number and electron density of the compounds. These values are found to be in agreement with other available published values.     

Molar extinction coefficients of solutions of some organic compounds

Molar extinction coefficients of aqueous solutions of some organic compounds, viz. formamide (CH₃NO),N-methylformamide (C₂H₅NO),NN-dimethylformamide (C₃H₇NO),NN-dimethylacetamide (C₄H₉NO), 1,4-dioxane (C₄H₈O₂₄), succinimide (C₄H₅NO₂) and solutions of acetamide (C₂H₅NO) and benzoic acid (C₇H₆O₂) in 1,4-dioxane (C₄H₈O₂) have been determined by narrow beam γ-ray transmission method at 81, 356, 511, 662, 1173 and 1332 keV. The experimental values of mass attenuation coefficients of these compounds have been used to calculate effective atomic numbers and electron densities. The additivity rule earlier used for aqueous solution has been extended to non-aqueous (1,4-dioxane) solutions.     

Measurement of photon interaction parameters of high-performance polymers and their composites

In the present study, commercially important high-performance polymers and their composites have been investigated with respect to photon interactions as means of mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), mean free path (MFP), half-value layer (HVL), effective atomic number (Z_eff), effective electron density (N_eff), and energy absorption and exposure buildup factors (EABF and EBF) at different photon energies. For this purpose, sample plates were prepared by extrusion and injection techniques using polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer, polyamide 66, polyphthalamide, and polypropylene copolymers as high-performance polymers and glass and carbon fibers as reinforcement. The (μ/ρ)s of the materials were measured at 81 and 356?keV photon energies to determine MFP, HVL, Z_eff, and N_eff. The theoretical values of these parameters were calculated via ZXCOM, WinXCom and Monte Carlo N-Particle simulation code (MCNP), and a good agreement was obtained between WinXCom–MCNP and MCNP–Exp. Finally, EABFs and EBFs of the samples were calculated up to around 40 MFP in the energy region 0.015–15?MeV and significant variations were observed in the continuous energy and MFP regions.     

纳秒激光诱导紫铜黄铜等离子体特征参数的对比研究

基于1064 nm Nd:YAG激光器,对比研究了紫铜和黄铜等离子的特征参数。洛仑兹函数拟合Cu I 324.75 nm得到紫铜和黄铜等离子体的电子密度分别是3.61017 cm-3和3.31017 cm-3。为了减小谱线自发辐射跃迁几率不确定性和测量误差带来的计算误差,采用改进型迭代玻耳兹曼算法精确求解紫铜等离子体和黄铜等离子体的电子温度分别是6316 K和6051 K,分析表明,两种等离子体特征参数的差异主要是由于黄铜中的锌元素的电离能（9.39 eV）大于铜元素的电离能（7.72 eV）而造成的。实验数据证实激光诱导的紫铜和黄铜等离子体满足局部热力学平衡模型和光学薄模型。     

利用质子能损检测气体靶区有效靶原子密度的实验研究

准确测量气态靶区的有效靶原子密度能够提升离子与气体和离子与等离子体靶相互作用实验结果的精度和对物理过程的认识.实验中利用离子加速器引出的100 ke V质子束穿过一定长度的氢气靶,对质子的剩余能量进行了精确测量,获得了在气体靶内的质子能损数据,结合已有的能损研究结果,重新标定了气体靶区内的有效靶原子密度.分别比较了能损、电离型真空计IonIVac ITR 90和薄膜电容型真空计Varian CDG-500的实验测量结果,对比了修正后的电离型真空计有效气压曲线,结果发现质子束能损的测量方式具有原位、高准确性、在线监测等突出优势,为诊断气态靶有效原子密度提供了新的方法.     

Effects of atomic number Z on the energy distribution of hot electrons generated by femtosecond laser interaction with metallic targets

The effects of atomic number Z on the energy distribution of hot electrons generated by the interaction of 60fs, 130mJ, 800nm, and 7×10^17W/cm^2 laser pulses with metallic targets have been studied experimentally. The results show that the number and the effective temperature of hot electrons increase with the atomic number Z of metallic targets, and the temperature of hot electrons are in the range of 190-230keV, which is consistent with a scaling law of hot electrons temperature.     

激光诱导铝合金E414d等离子体电子温度的空间分布

采用调Q Nd:YAG脉冲激光诱导铝合金E414d,研究了等离子体的谱线强度、电子温度和电子密度。建立Al (Ⅰ) 256.80 nm、Al (Ⅰ) 308.21 nm和Al (Ⅰ) 396.15 nm的波耳兹曼平面,实验发现距靶面高度1.5 mm处等离子体的电子温度最高。罗仑兹函数拟合Mg (Ⅰ) 285.21 nm得到等离子体的电子密度是1.9×1018 cm-3,远大于局域热力学平衡所需的电子密度值9.8×1015 cm-3,证明实验得到的等离子体满足局部热力学平衡。     

Determination of effective atomic number and electron density of heavy metal oxide glasses

The effective atomic number (Z_eff) and effective electron density (N_eff) of eight heavy metal oxide (HMO) glasses have been determined using the Monte Carlo simulation code MCNP for the energy range of 10?keV–10?MeV. The interpolation method was employed to extract Z_eff and N_eff values from the simulation and that calculated with the help of XCOM program. Comparisons are also made with predictions from the Auto-Z_eff software in the same energy region. Wherever possible, the simulated values of Z_eff and N_eff are compared with experimental data. In general, a very good agreement was noticed. It was found that the Z_eff and N_eff vary with photon energy and do not have extended intermediate regions where Compton scattering is truly dominating; only dips slightly above ～1.5?MeV were recorded. Z_eff and N_eff are found to increase with PbO and Bi₂O₃ contents. It was found that the Z_eff value rather than the N_eff value is a better indicator for PbO and/or Bi₂O₃ contents.     

Measurement of atomic number and mass attenuation coefficient in magnesium ferrite

Pure magnesium ferrite sample was prepared by standard ceramic technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction method. XRD pattern revealed that the sample possess single-phase cubic spinel structure. The linear attenuation coefficient (μ), mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), total atomic cross-section (σ _tot), total electronic cross-section (σ _ele) and the effective atomic number (Z _eff) were calculated for pure magnesium ferrite (MgFe₂O₄). The values of γ-ray mass attenuation coefficient were obtained using a NaI energy selective scintillation counter with radioactive γ-ray sources having energy 0.36, 0.511, 0.662, 1.17 and 1.28 MeV. The experimentally obtained values of μ/ρ and Z _eff agreed fairly well with those obtained theoretically.      

1064 nm Nd:YAG激光诱导铁等离子体特征参数的研究

利用1064 nm Nd:YAG激光器研究了激光诱导铁条等离子体的特征参数。为了减小测量误差和谱线自发辐射跃迁几率不确定性带来的计算误差,采用改进的迭代Boltzmann方法精确求解铁等离子体的电子温度为8058 K。Lorentz函数拟合Fe I 376.553 nm得到等离子体的电子数密度为8.71017 cm-3。分析表明等离子体的加热机制主要是逆轫致过程,其吸收系数是0.14 cm-1。实验数据证实激光诱导铁等离子体处于局部热力学平衡状态和光学薄状态。     

激光诱导铝合金E414d等离子体电子温度的空间分布

 采用调Q Nd:YAG脉冲激光诱导铝合金E414d,研究了等离子体的谱线强度、电子温度和电子密度。建立Al (Ⅰ) 256.80 nm、Al (Ⅰ) 308.21 nm和Al (Ⅰ) 396.15 nm的波耳兹曼平面,实验发现距靶面高度1.5 mm处等离子体的电子温度最高。罗仑兹函数拟合Mg (Ⅰ) 285.21 nm得到等离子体的电子密度是1.9×10₁₈ cm_-3,远大于局域热力学平衡所需的电子密度值9.8×10₁₅ cm_-3,证明实验得到的等离子体满足局部热力学平衡。     

Investigation of radiological properties of some shielding materials on charged and uncharged radiation interaction for neutron generator

Radiation interaction parameters such as total stopping power, projected range (longitudinal and lateral) straggling, mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number (Z_eff) and electron density (N_eff) of some shielding materials were investigated for photon and heavy charged particle interactions. The ranges, stragglings and mass attenuation coefficients were calculated for the high-density polyethylene(HDPE), borated polyethylene (BPE), brick (common silica), concrete (regular), wood, water, stainless steel (304), aluminum (alloy 6061-O), lead and bismuth using SRIM Monte Carlo software and WinXCom program. In addition, effective atomic numbers (Z_eff) and electron densities (N_eff) of HDPE, BPE, brick (common silica), concrete (regular), wood, water, stainless steel (304) and aluminum (alloy 6061-O) were calculated in the energy region 10?keV–100?MeV using mass stopping powers and mass attenuation coefficients. Two different methods namely direct and interpolation procedures were used to calculate Z_eff for comparison and significant differences were determined between the methods. Variations of the ranges, longitudinal and lateral stragglings of water, concrete and stainless steel (304) were compared with each other in the continuous kinetic energy region and discussed with respect to their Z_effs. Moreover, energy absorption buildup factors (EABF) and exposure buildup factors (EBF) of the materials were determined for gamma rays as well and were compared with each other for different photon energies and different mfps in the photon energy region 0.015–15?MeV.     

Variation of gamma radiation shielding properties with incident photon energy and penetration depth for WC/Al composites

In this work, we examined the usefulness of the WC_x/Al_100?x composites (x?=?10, 20, 50, 80 wt. %) for gamma-ray shielding materials. The mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), effective atomic number (Z_eff), electron density (N_e) and energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) and exposure buildup factor (EBF) for WC_x/Al_100?x composites have been calculated by theoretical approach using XCOM program within the energy range 1?keV–100?GeV, 10 keV–1?GeV, 10 keV–1?GeV and 0.015?MeV–15?MeV, respectively. The results showed that both the values of mass attenuation coefficient and Z_eff of the WC_x/Al_100?x composites tend to increase with the increase of the WC concentration. For the energy region below 3?MeV, the WC₈₀/Al₂₀ composite was found to possess superior gamma-ray shielding effectiveness due to its higher values of both mass attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number, and lower values of both EABF and EBF values. However, for the energy region above 3?MeV, the EBF and EABF values of the WC/Al composites are directly proportional to their Z_eff values, leading to the lowest EBF and EABF values of the WC₁₀/Al₉₀ composites.     

Cascade Two-photon Correlated-emission Optical Bistability

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Luminescence properties of the Mg co–doped Ce:SrHfO3 ceramics prepared by the Spark Plasma Sintering Method

1300 or 1400 °C pre–sintered Al/Ce/Mg:SrHfO₃ and Al/Ce:SrHfO₃ ceramics were prepared by the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) in order to search for a new scintillation material with a high–effective atomic number(Z_eff) and good light output. The SrHfO₃ has a high Z_eff of 60, and high gamma–ray detection efficiency is expected. Meanwhile it has a high melting point of over 2500 °C, and single crystal is hard to be grown. On the other hand, high melting materials can be prepared as ceramics, and the SPS method is a simple process to fabricate the ceramics within a few hours. Thus, we prepared the samples using the SPS method, and their optical and scintillation properties were investigated. We found that Al/Ce/Mg:SrHfO₃ and Al/Ce:SrHfO₃ ceramics had an emission wavelength at around 400 nm originating from 5d–4f transition of Ce³⁺. Moreover, Al/Ce/Mg:SrHfO₃ pre-sintered at a temperature of 1400 °C had a light output of approximately 5,000 ph/MeV. In this paper, the light output of Mg-co-doped samples was improved compared with the Mg-free ones. The light output also depends on the pre-sintering temperature.     

White and some colored marbles as alternative radiation shielding materials for applications

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the radiation shielding parameters such as linear attenuation coefficients (LAC, µ), mass attenuation coefficients (MAC, µ/ρ), effective atomic numbers (Z_eff), effective electron densities (N_eff), half value of layers (HVL), mean free paths (MFP) and buildup factors (exposure (EBF) and energy absorption (EABF)) were investigated for cream (M1), pink (M2), white (M3), maroon (M4) and green (M5) marbles. Attenuation coefficients were measured in the energy region 31.18–661.66 keV photon energies. The values of Z_eff and N_eff were then calculated using these coefficients with logarithmic interpolation method, and HVLs and MFPs were calculated using the values of LAC of marble samples at the same photon energies. The experimental results were compared with the theoretical values obtained from WinXCom program, and good agreements were observed between the experimental and theoretical results. HVLs and MFPs of all marble samples were compared with those of some concretes, glasses and commercial radiation shielding glasses (SCHOTT Co.). The studied marbles were better radiation shielding materials than standard shielding concretes due to lower HVL and MFP values lower than the ordinary concrete. Finally, EBFs and EABFs of the marbles were calculated in the energy region 0.015–1?MeV up to penetration depths of 40 mfps by Geometric Progression method (G-P), and the results were discussed in terms of photon energies and chemical compositions of the marbles.