Optical properties, gamma attenuation and fast neutrons moderating performance of V2O5–Bi2O3–B2O3–PbO glasses

This study investigated a new glass system containing various oxides, namely, V₂O₅, Bi₂O₃, B₂O₃, and PbO, with the aim of understanding their optical properties, gamma attenuation characteristics, and fast neutron moderation abilities. The optical properties were assessed through the refractive index and other parameters such as the reflectance loss (R^loss), optical transmittance (T^opt), molar polarizability, molar refractivity, metallization criterion (M), and static dielectric constant. Moreover, through a comprehensive theoretical analysis, the radiation shielding performance of the glass system was determined by computing their gamma and neutron attenuation factors. The PHITS Monte Carlo simulation code and the XCOM program were used to calculate the gamma radiation interaction parameters, while standard theoretical models were adopted for the estimation of neutron cross-sections. It was deduced from the obtained results that, as PbO concentration increased at the expense of V₂O₅, R^loss decreased. Also, T^opt increased with values of 0.6081, 0.6265, and 0.6514 for VBBP1, VBBP2, and VBBP3, respectively. The lowest half value layer (HVL) was observed at the lowest energy for the VBBP3 sample containing the highest PbO content. The synergistic effects arising from the combination of the various oxides offer unique opportunities for tailoring the optical and shielding attributes of the studied glasses to meet the demands of diverse optical, radiation shielding, and technological applications.