Study on gamma-ray shielding properties of lead tellurite glass systems using PHITS

The gamma-ray shielding properties, mass attenuation coefficient, mean free path and half value layer of lead tellurite glass systems were investigated in the photon energy range of 0.015–15 MeV using particle and heavy ion transport code system (PHITS) with the use of narrow beam transmission technique. The gamma shielding efficiency of studied glass systems was compared to that of standard concretes in terms of mean free path and half value layer. The obtained results show that PHITS is very capable for investigation of radiation shielding properties to good accuracy with maximum percentage differences of less than 2% comparing to the results by XCOM database. This will make a useful alternative technique for studying radiation parameters of other glasses, for which no experimental results are available. (paper)