Abstract
A new γγ coincidence system has been set up at NIST. It is operated with a digital data finder supported by new software developed at NIST. The system is used to explore possible enhancements in instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and study applicability to neutron capture prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA). The performance of the system is tested with certified reference materials for efficiency calibration and quantitative performance. Comparisons of INAA results based on conventional gamma-ray spectrometry data with INAA results based on coincidence data obtained from the same samples show improvements in the counting uncertainties and demonstrates the quantitative accuracy of the new system.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Greenberg RR, Bode P, Fernandes EAN (2011) Neutron activation analysis: a primary method of measurement. Spectrochim Acta B 66:193–241
Cooper JA (1971) Radioanalytical applications of gamma–gamma coincidence techniques with lithium-drifted germanium detectors. Anal Chem 43:838–845
Kim JI, Speecke A, Hoste J (1965) Neutron activation analysis of copper in bismuth by gamma gamma-coincidence measurement. Anal Chim Acta 33:123–130
Bramlitt ET (1966) Gamma–gamma coincidence counting applied to chlorine analysis by neutron activation. Anal Chem 38:1669–1674
Ehmann WD, McKown DM (1969) Instrumental activation analysis of meteorites using gamma–gamma coincidence spectrometry. Anal Lett 2:49–60
Vobecky M, Jakubek J, Bustamante CG et al (1999) Multielement instrumental activation analysis based on gamma-gamma coincidence spectroscopy. Anal Chim Acta 386:181–189
Jakubek J, Nuiten P, Pluhar J, Pospisil S, Sinor M, Stekl I, Timoracky S, Vobecky M (1998) Coincidence gamma–gamma spectroscopy system for instrumental neutron activation analysis. Nucl Instrum Methods A 414:261–264
Huber H, Koeberl Ch, McDonald I, Reimold WU (2000) Use of gamma–gamma coincidence spectrometry in the geochemical study of diamictites from South Africa. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 244:603–607
Hatsukawa Y, Miyamoto Y, Toh Y, Oshima M, Gharaei MHM, Goto K, Toyoda K (2007) High-sensitive elemental analysis using multi-parameter coincidence spectrometer: GEMINI-II. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 272:273–276
Tomlin BE, Zeisler R, Lindstrom RM (2008) γ-γ Coincidence spectrometer for INAA. Nucl Instrum Methods A 589:243–249
Tomlin BE, Zeisler R (2009) Improvements in determinations using the Cu-64 annihilation gamma-rays. Appl Radiat Isot 67:2075–2078
Turkoglu D, Downing RG, Chen W, Şahin D, Cook J (2017) A He-3 beam stop for minimizing gamma-ray and fast-neutron background. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 311:1243–1249
Hennig W, Chu YX, Tan H, Fallu-Labruyere A, Warburton WK (2007) The DGF pixie-4 spectrometer—compact digital readout electronics for HPGe clover detectors. Nucl Instrum Methods B 263:175–178
https://github.com/usnistgov/qpx-gamma. Accessed 21 Mar 2017
Shetty M, Sahin D (2016) Data acquisition and analysis software for gamma coincidence spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 309:243–247
Moreira EG, Vasconcellos MBA, Catharino MGM, Maihara VA, Saiki M (2012) Applying INAA to the homogeneity study of a Perna perna mussel reference material. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 291:107–111
IPEN-CNEN/SP Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (2012) Certified Reference Material IPEN 001, personal communication
Greenberg RR, Fleming RF, Zeisler R (1984) High sensitivity neutron activation analysis of environmental and biological Standard Reference Materials. Environ Int 10:129–136
Becker DA (2000) 30 years of reactor characterization on the NBSR. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 244:361–365
http://www.xia.com/Manuals/Pixie4_UserManual.pdf. Accessed 21-Mar-2017
Searchable at https://www-s.nist.gov/srmors/quickSearch.cfm. Accessed 21-Mar-2017
Acknowledgements
We appreciate the financial support by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Sao Paulo, Brazil, enabling the participation of Iberê Souza Ribeiro Junior in these studies.
Disclaimer
Contribution of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, not subject to copyright in the United States. Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this paper in order to specify the experimental procedure adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the NIST, nor is it intended to imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zeisler, R., Cho, H., Junior, I.S.R. et al. On neutron activation analysis with γγ coincidence spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 314, 513–519 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5342-7
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5342-7