Theoretical Evaluation of Natural Tantalum Oxides for Gamma- Ray Shielding via Phy-X software

Abstract

This study utilized multiple materials to protect workers, particularly those in oil fields, from radiation hazards, including gamma rays. Each sample from the eight tantalum oxides: Mn²⁺Sn⁴⁺Ta₂O₈, Mn²⁺Ta₂O₆, Fe²⁺Ta₂O₆, Fe²⁺Ta₂O₆, (Y,U,Fe²⁺)(Ta,Nb)(O.OH)₄, Bi(Ta,Nb)O₄, (Ca,Na)₂(Ta,Nb)₂O₆F, and Al₄Ta₃O₁₃(OH) were evaluated as shields from the harm of gamma rays. All these materials are natural and insoluble in water. Here, the potential of using tantalum oxides mainly depends on the chemical composition of each material and its density, as well as their effectiveness in mitigating ionizing radiation. The calculated gamma ray shielding parameters include the linear attenuation coefficient, mass attenuation coefficient, half value layer, tenth value layer, mean free path, effective electron density, effective conductivity, and atomic cross-section. Electronic cross section, effective atomic number, and equivalent atomic number. These parameters were obtained by applying free Phy-X software within the photon interaction range of 0.015-15 MeV. The linear attenuation coefficient and mass attenuation coefficient decreased as the energy increased, whereas the other shielding parameters decreased as the energy decreased. Among all the tested samples, bismutotantalite Bi(Ta,Nb)O₄ proved as the most effective material for gamma-ray shielding because of its heavy element content, high mean atomic number, and highest density, which are the key factors at intermediate energies (Compton effect). In contrast, materials such as {(Ca,Na)₂(Ta,Nb)₂O₆F, Al₄Ta₃O₁₃(OH), (Y,U,Fe²⁺)(Ta,Nb)(O. OH)₄}, which contain lighter elements were less effective in protection from this radiation. At high photon energies, pair production occurs; consequently, these lighter materials do not strongly absorb radiation.