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In this work the sensitivities of minor elements in a standard steel sample EURONORM-CRM No. 085-1 irradiated with beams of 5.5 MeV protons and 5 MeV deuterons have been determined both by regular proton- (p-PIGE) and deuteron-induced prompt gamma-ray emission (d-PIGE) methods and with the selection of the (p, n) and (d, n) reaction channels, measuring the neutron–gamma coincidences. A check on the elemental composition of the steel standard has also been carried out using combined INAA and PIXE and quantitative determinations have been done for some elements whose concentrations were not specified by the manufacturer, such as Al, As, Cr, Mo, Na, Ni, W. This complex study has resulted in a significant improvement of the sensitivities for some minor elements in steel by reducing the background and increasing the peak-to-background ratio in the coincident prompt gamma-rays spectra as a result of the elimination of the competing nuclear reactions originating from isotopes of the adjacent elements in the periodic table, present in the steel target. This extension of the PIGE method could be adapted by any analyst with the necessary equipment for the analysis of a wide variety of matrices that are refractory enough to withstand the heating effect of the bombarding beam, taking into account that this type of experiment requires longer irradiation times. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Gamma-ray shielding properties of high dense glassy system (bismuth fluoro-lead-borate doped with chromium (III) ions) with composition of (25-x)PbF 2 –25Bi 2 O 3 –49.8B 2 O 3 –0.2Cr 2 O 3 - xCaF 2 - (where x = 0 (S1), 5 (S2), 10 (S3), 15 (S4), 20 (S5), and 25 (S6) mol%) have been investigated. Phy-X/PSD software was used to achieve this purpose in photon energy range (0.15–15 MeV). Additionally, the superior glass shield sample was compared to several types of glass and concrete shields. Results revealed that each photon energy value investigated the maximum linear attenuation coefficient (µ m) values for the S1 glass sample with the heaviest element contribution in its structure were detected at the maximum level. In terms of the µ m , there was a difference of roughly 0.5 cm2/g in the S1 and S6 glasses. The S1 sample with the highest µ m also had the lowest T 0.5 and mean free path (λ). The heavy element contribution to the S1 sample was reflected in the effective atomic number values, which provided the S1 sample with the highest Z eff values. Values of exposure and energy absorption buildup factors (EBF and EABF) were confirmed that the sample S1 has the minimum values. Our findings showed that S1 sample may be considered as superior gamma-ray shielding properties among all studied glasses. • Bismuth fluoro-lead-borate doped with chromium (III) ions glasses have been fabricated. • Phy-X/PSD software was applied. • Radiation shielding capacities have been examined. • Glasses were superior for gamma-ray shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]