Linear/nonlinear opto-gamma radiation attenuation hallmarks of high-density lead barium-borate glass blocks containing iron oxide additives

In the present report, glass samples with high density were prepared as 10BaO-75B₂O₃-15PbO-xFe₂O₃, where x varied from 0.0 to 0.5 with 0.1 mol% increments via the conventional quenched-melted process. The linear and nonlinear opto-physical properties and the associated gamma-ray attenuation parameters have been examined. Density slightly increased from ρ = 5.09154 g/cm³ to ρ = 5.092731 g/cm³. Tauc’s indirect optical gap (E^optical) values changed between 2.82 and 2.36 eV. The values of the linear index of refraction (n^linear) varied between 2.43 ± 0.05 for Fe-0.0 glass sample and 2.57 ± 0.05 for Fe-0.5 glass sample. Metallization-based criterion (i.e., M) parameter was found to decrease from 0.381 to 0.344 as the contents of Fe₂O₃ were increased from 0.1 to 0.5 mol%. Values of the nonlinear refractive index (n₂) varied from 5.72 × 10^–11 to 9.93 × 10^–11, whereas values of nonlinear susceptibility (χ⁽³⁾) varied from 4.05 × 10^–12 esu to 6.77 × 10^–12 esu. Applying the Phy-X/PSD program, values of mass- and linear-attenuation-coefficient (MAC (g/cm²) and LAC (cm⁻¹)) remains consistent in the studied energy range (0.015 < E < 15 MeV). The Fe₂O₃-free glass sample was found to possess minimum energy-buildup-factors. Thus, the fabricated Fe-based glass blocks have the practical potential applications in opto-based and γ-ray radiation attenuation applications.