Evaluation of the optical changes for a soda-lime-silicate glass exposed to radiation

A soda-lime-silicate glass is exposed to beta radiation from an ⁹⁰Sr source and gamma radiation from a ⁶⁰Co source. Under exposure to radiation of the ⁹⁰Sr and ⁶⁰Co radioisotopes, the glass changes its color depending on the irradiation doses. The effect of beta irradiation on the optical properties of the glass is compared with that of gamma irradiation. The optical properties of the irradiated glasses differ significantly from those of the unirradiated glasses. Under exposure to beta and gamma radiation, the three main optical absorption bands appear at ∼380-460, ∼620, and ∼1050 nm. It is established that the absorption band at ∼420 nm, which is attributed to Fe³⁺ ions, is very sensitive to beta and gamma irradiation.