Investigation of a rapid and non-destructive fast-neutron activation analysis for many elements by using a semi-conductor detector

Abstract

Investigations in the field of fast-neutron activation analysis with a small neutron generator have established the fact that oxygen in various materials can be determined by the rapid, non-destructive method. The present study has been carried out to investigate the applicability of the method with a germanium (lithium)γ-ray detector and data processing by electronic computer, for many other elements. More than sixty elements were activated under the conditions: bombarding time 400 seconds; neutron output 5 × 10¹⁰ neutrons second^–1; counting time 500 seconds after cooling; cooling time 10 seconds after bombardment, and their sensitivities under these conditions were calculated. According to the experimental results obtained by the mathematical method, many elements, in addition to oxygen, can be determined by this method without chemical separation.