• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.1364-1371
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• 2018

An extensive investigation of photon interaction properties has been made for $Zn_xTe_{100-x}$ alloys (where x = 5, 20, 30, 40, 50) to explore its possible use in sensing and shielding gamma radiations. The results show better and stable response of ZnTe alloys for various photon interaction properties over the wide energy range, with an additional benefit of ease in fabrication due to lower melting points of Zn and Te. Mass attenuation coefficient values show strong dependence on photon energy as well as composition. Effective atomic number has maximum value for $Zn_5Te_{95}$ and lowest for $Zn_{50}Te_{50}$ in the entire energy region. The alloy sample with maximum $Z_{eff}$ shows minimal value of $N_e$ and vice versa. Mean free path follows inverse trend as observed for mass attenuation coefficient. The exposure and energy absorption buildup factors depend upon photon energy, penetration thickness and composition (effective atomic number) of $Zn_xTe_{100-x}$ alloys. It finds its application for sensing and shielding from highly energetic and highly penetrating photons at sites where radioactive materials were used and visibility of material is not a big constraint. Further, energy down conversion property of ZnTe alloys with subsequent emission in green band suggests its potential use in sensing gamma photons.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.284-290
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• 2014

A fiber-optic beta/gamma dual detector system with two types of sensing probes was fabricated to detect the beta- and gamma-rays simultaneously. As scintillators of the sensing probe type 1, two different inorganic scintillators, $CaF_2(Eu)$ and LYSO(Ce) crystals, were used to obtain the each scintillating efficiency with respect to beta-and gamma-rays and the inherent energy spectra of radioactive isotopes. In the case of the sensing probe type 2, which is composed of two identical inorganic scintillators and a beta shielding material based on the lead, it could discriminate beta- and gamma-rays using a subtraction method. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the proposed fiber-optic beta/gamma dual detector could measure and discriminate beta- and gamma-rays using both energy spectroscopy and subtraction method.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.8
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• pp.3307-3314
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• 2024

For traditional spent fuel shielding materials, due to physical and chemical defects and cost constraints, they have been unable to meet the needs. Therefore, this paper carries out the first discussion on the application and performance of bismuth in neutron shielding by establishing Monte Carlo simulation on the neutron flux model of shielded spent fuel. Firstly, functional fillers such as bismuth oxide, lead oxide, boron oxide, gadolinium oxide and tungsten oxide are added to the matrices to compare the shielding rates of aluminum alloy matrix and silicone rubber matrix. The shielding rate of silicone rubber mixture is higher than aluminum alloy mixture, reaching more than 56%. The optimal addition proportion of bismuth oxide and lead oxide is 30%, and the neutron radiation protection efficiency reaches 60%. Then, the mass attenuation coefficients of bismuth oxide, lead oxide, boron oxide, gadolinium oxide and tungsten oxide in silicone rubber matrix are simulated with the change of functional fillers proportion and neutron energy. This simulation result shows that the mixture with functional fillers has good shielding performance for low energy neutrons, but poor shielding effect for high energy neutrons. Finally, in order to further evaluate the possibility of replacing lead oxide with bismuth oxide as shielding material, the half-value layers and various properties of bismuth oxide and lead oxide are compared. The results show that the shielding properties of bismuth oxide and lead oxide are basically the same, and the mechanical properties, heat resistance, radiation resistance and environmental protection of bismuth oxide are better than that of lead oxide. Therefore, in the case of neutron source strengths in the range of 0.01-6 MeV and secondary gamma rays produced below 2.5 MeV, bismuth can replace lead in neutron shielding applications.