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Results for “Neutron Activation Analysis”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Evaluation of Compton suppression for enhancing trace element identification in neutron activation analysis of reference materials

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) is a powerful technique for identifying and quantifying trace elements in materials. However, challenges such as high dead times, spectral interferences, and high Compton continuum often arise. This study employs a Compton suppression system (CSS) to enhance NAA sensitivity by reducing the Compton continuum, thereby improving the peak-to-Compton ratio. National Institute of Standards and Technology certified reference materials 1632d, 1633c, and Canadian National Research Council TORT-1 were irradiated in a thermal and epithermal neutron flux under various irradiation, decay and counting times and analyzed using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with and without Compton suppression. The reduction factor was calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of the CSS, demonstrating significant background reduction and improved detection limits for trace elements. Additional experiments with a 137Cs point source demonstrated the impact of detector-source geometry on system performance, showing a decrease in the reduction factor as the source was moved further from the NaI detector. An optimum distance between the source and HPGe detector was observed, yielding the highest peak-to-Compton ratio. The results highlight the CSS's ability to minimize spectral interference and enhance elemental identification.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1974

The simultaneous determination of 20 trace elements in terrestrial, lunar and meteoritic material by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

A radiochemical neutron activation method has been developed and applied to determine the content of 20 trace elements (Ag, Au, Bi, Br, Cd, Co, Cs, Cu, Ga, Ge, In, Ir, Ni, Rb, Re, Sb, Te, Tl, and Zn) in 45 terrestrial, 230 lunar, and 70 meteoritic samples. Results obtained for the U.S.G.S. standard basalt BCR-1 indicate that the inherent precision for most elements is 10% or better. The values obtained for the trace elements investigated are compared to those previously reported in the literature. Data for Type I carbonaceous chondrites show their compositions to be far more uniform than previously supposed. The values obtained for several elements represent significant revisions in the accepted cosmic abundances. These new values include: Zn, 1250; Cd, 1.51; and Ir, 0.72 atoms/million Si atoms. Further results have provided insight into the meteoritic material and accretion of the moon, and give evidence of lunar highland vulcanism.

Keays, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Neutron activation analysis for antimetabolites

Determination of metal ion contaminants in food samples is studied. A weighed quantity of each sample was digested in a concentrated mixture of nitric, hydrochloric and perchloric acids to affect complete solution of the food products. The samples were diluted with water and the pH adjusted according to the specific analysis performed. The samples were analyzed by neutron activation analysis, polarography, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The solid food samples were also analyzed by neutron activation analysis for increased sensitivity and lower levels of detectability. The results are presented in tabular form.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1971

14 MeV neutron activation analysis of rocks and meteorites.

Fourteen-MeV neutron activation analysis has certain unique advantages for the nondestructive analysis of rocks and meteorites. In this review, the principles of the method are outlined, and the techniques for the precise and accurate analyses are summarized. Some current and future applications are described.

Morgan, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Neutron Activation Analysis of Water - A Review

Recent developments in this field are emphasized. After a brief review of basic principles, topics discussed include sources of neutrons, pre-irradiation physical and chemical treatment of samples, neutron capture and gamma-ray analysis, and selected applications. Applications of neutron activation analysis of water have increased rapidly within the last few years and may be expected to increase in the future.

Buchanan, John D.↗