Gamma, X-ray, and neutron shielding properties of silicon–germanium alloys

Abstract

This work focuses on the gamma/X-ray and neutron shielding properties of silicon–germanium alloys in different compositions such as Si0.1Ge0.9 (SG1), Si0.2Ge0.8, Si0.4Ge0.6, Si0.6Ge0.4, Si0.8Ge0.2, and Si0.9Ge0.1. Among all the selected alloys, SG1 has less half-value thickness, tenth-value thickness, and penetration depth, whereas specific gamma-ray constant, Zeff, electron density, radiation protection efficiency, and kinetic energy released in matter have larger values compared to the other studied alloys. The neutron shielding parameters, such as coherent neutron scattering length, incoherent neutron scattering length, coherent neutron scattering cross-section, and incoherent neutron scattering cross-sections are smaller for the SG1 alloy than the other studied alloys. Furthermore, total neutron scattering cross-section and neutron absorption cross-section are found to be larger for SG1 than the other studied alloys. Based on gamma/X-ray and neutron shielding parameter analysis, we have suggested a shielding material consisting of ordinary concrete and SG1 alloy of particular thickness to cease X-ray/gamma-ray and neutron radiation. By analyzing all these parameters, we suggest that the SG1 alloy might be a good shielding material for X-rays/gamma-rays and for neutrons compared to other selected alloys.