Theoretical Investigation of the Gamma and Neutron Interaction Parameters of Some Inorganic Scintillators Using Phy-X/PSD and NGCal Software

Abstract

Inorganic scintillators are used in extreme environments and are essential in applications such as nuclear fission and fusion, radiation therapy, marine, and space exploration, etc. Radiation resistance is required for inorganic scintillators to be used in above mentioned applications. It is important to calculate the gamma buildup factors for inorganic scintillators to understand their radiation resistance behavior. The gamma-ray and neutron interaction parameters were calculated for inorganic scintillators such as BaF2, BGO, CdWO4, CaF2(Eu), CaWO4, CsI, CsI(Na), CsI(Tl), Gd2O2S, LaBr3(Ce), LaCl3(Ce), PbWO4, LSO(Ce), LYSO(Ce), NaI(Tl), YAG(Ce), ZnS(Ag), ZnWO4. The gamma-ray interaction parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient, half value layer, tenth value layer, effective atomic number, equivalent atomic number, exposure buildup factor (EBF), and energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) were computed using Phy-X/PSD software. The neutron interaction parameters such as fast neutron removal cross section, and mass attenuation factor for thermal and fast neutron were computed using Phy-X/PSD and NGCal software, respectively. The present calculated mass attenuation coefficient values are compared with GEANT4 code data available in the literature. The higher values of Zeff were found for PbWO4 up to 0.1 MeV and above 0.1 MeV, CsI(Tl) has higher Zeff values. However, the Zeq values were found to be higher for PbWO4 in the whole energy range. The mass attenuation factor for thermal and fast neutrons with the highest value was found for Gd2O2S and with the lowest value for BGO. The present investigation indicates that the inorganic scintillator PbWO4 has an excellent gamma-ray sensing response.