Abstract
Neutron activation analysis (NAA) is an isotope specific analytical technique for the qualitative and quantitative measurement of chemical elements. The method is based upon the conversion of stable atomic nuclei into radioactive nuclei by irradiation with neutrons and the subsequent detection of the radiation emitted during the decay of these radioactive nuclei. All of the stable elements have properties suitable for production of radioactive isotopes albeit at strongly different reaction rates. Each radionuclide is uniquely characterized by its decay constant—the probability for the nuclear decay in unit time- and the type and energy of the emitted radiation. Amongst the several types of radiation that can be emitted, gamma-radiation offers the best characteristics for the selective and simultaneous detection of radionuclides and thus of elements.
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Bode, P. (2017). Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). In: Kardjilov, N., Festa, G. (eds) Neutron Methods for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. Neutron Scattering Applications and Techniques. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33163-8_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33163-8_10
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