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

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 Z_eff were found for PbWO₄ up to 0.1 MeV and above 0.1 MeV, CsI(Tl) has higher Z_eff values. However, the Z_eq 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.