Computational Evaluation of Gamma-Ray Shielding and Photon Interaction Parameters of Bi₂O₃-Modified Tm³⁺-Doped Borotellurite Glasses using Phy-X/PSD

Ibrahim Maijawa; Usman Muhammad Ibrahim; Musa Muhammad Elbulatory; Mala Bukar; Dauda Aminu Idiss

doi:10.62292/njp.v35i2.2026.570

Authors

Ibrahim Maijawa
ibraheemmaijawa@gmail.com

Federal University Gashua
Usman Muhammad Ibrahim
Bayero University Kano
Musa Muhammad Elbulatory
Yobe State University
Mala Bukar
Zonal Advanced Space Technology Application Laboratory, National Space Research and Development Agency, Kano State
Dauda Aminu Idiss
Zonal Advanced Space Technology Application Laboratory, National Space Research and Development Agency, Kano State

Keywords:

Bi₂O₃-modified glass, Borotellurite glass, Gamma-ray shielding, Lead-free shielding materials, Photon interaction parameters, Phy-X/PSD

Abstract

The demand for efficient, transparent, and environmentally friendly radiation shielding materials has intensified with the increasing use of ionizing radiation in medical, industrial, and nuclear applications. In this study, the gamma-ray shielding and photon interaction characteristics of Bi₂O₃-modified Tm³⁺-doped borotellurite glasses were systematically evaluated using the Phy-X/PSD computational platform. Five glass compositions with varying Bi₂O₃ content (0–0.20 mol %) were analyzed over a broad photon energy range of 0.015–15 MeV to investigate the influence of bismuth oxide incorporation on shielding performance. Key photon interaction parameters, including effective atomic number (Z_eff), effective electron density (N_eff), and effective conductivity (C_eff), were calculated at energies corresponding to commonly used gamma-ray sources (Am-241, Cs-137, and Co-60). The density of the glass samples was found to increase gradually from 5.106 to 7.203 g/cm³ with the Bi₂O₃ addition (0–0.2 mol %). The results reveal a pronounced enhancement in radiation attenuation capability with increasing Bi₂O₃ concentration, primarily due to the high atomic number and density of bismuth oxide. Z_eff exhibited a consistent increase across all photon energies, indicating improved photon interaction probability. N_eff showed strong energy dependence, decreasing at low photon energy where photoelectric absorption dominates, while increasing at intermediate and high energies due to enhanced Compton scattering. Similarly, C_eff attained maximum values at low photon energy and decreased gradually with increasing energy, reflecting transitions between dominant photon interaction mechanisms. Among the investigated compositions, the glass containing 0.20 mol % Bi₂O₃ demonstrated the best overall shielding performance across the entire energy range. These findings confirm that Bi₂O₃-modified borotellurite glasses are promising transparent, lead-free candidates for advanced gamma-ray shielding applications in medical imaging facilities, nuclear laboratories, and radiation protection systems.

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Computational Evaluation of Gamma-Ray Shielding and Photon Interaction Parameters of Bi₂O₃-Modified Tm³⁺-Doped Borotellurite Glasses using Phy-X/PSD

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