Abstract
Prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) is especially sensitive for elements with high neutron-capture cross sections, like boron, which can be detected down to a level of ng/g. However, if it is a major component, the high count rate from its signal will distort the spectra, making the evaluation difficult. A lead attenuator was introduced in front of the HPGe-detector to reduce low-energy gamma radiation and specifically the boron gamma rays reaching the detector, whose thickness was found to be optimal at 10 mm. Detection efficiencies with and without the lead attenuator were compared, and it was shown that the dynamic range of the PGAA technique was significantly increased. The method was verified with the analyses of stoichiometric compounds: TiB2, NiB, PVC, Alborex, and Alborite.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Révay Z, Belgya T (2004) In: Molnár GL (ed) Handbook of prompt gamma activation analysis with neutron beams. Kluwer, Dordrecht
Révay Z (2009) Determining elemental composition using prompt, gamma activation analysis. Anal Chem 81:6851–6859
Révay Z, Firestone RB, Belgya T, Molnár GL (2004) In: Molnár GL (ed) Handbook of prompt gamma activation analysis with neutron beams. Kluwer, Dordrecht
Berger M, Hubbell J, Seltzer S, et al. (Nov 2010) XCOM: Photon Cross Sections Database. In: xcom-database.org. http://www.nist.gov/pml/data/xcom/index.cfm. Accessed 11 Mar 2013
Canella L, Kudejova P, Schulze R et al (2011) Characterisation and optimisation of the new prompt gamma-ray activation analysis (PGAA) facility at FRM II. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res Sect A 636:108–113
Fazekas B, Belgya T, Dabolczi L et al (1996) HYPERMET-PC: program for automatic analysis of complex gamma-ray spectra. J Trace Microprobe Tech 14:167–172
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the helpful discussions with László Szentmiklósi regarding high count-rate gamma spectroscopy.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Söllradl, S., Lührs, H., Révay, Z. et al. Increasing the dynamic range for the analysis of boron in PGAA. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 298, 2069–2073 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-013-2739-9
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-013-2739-9