Measurement of Average Thermal Neutron Flux for PGNAA Setup
Keywords:
Thermal neutron flux, epithermal neutron flux, Isotopic Am-Be source, Foil activation method, SensitivityAbstract
The prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) is widely used for detection and quantification of elements in samples of interest such as - archaeological, biological, medical, environmental samples etc. The detection limit of PGNAA setup for an element depends upon the neutron flux available at sample. The aim of this study is two-fold. First, to determine the sensitivity of setup for different sample configuration and second , to determine the average neutron thermal flux at sample of the PGNAA setup comprising a 5Ci Am-Be neutron source. The thermal neutron flux within water howitzer at different heights was measured using gold foil activation technique with and without cadmium covers. The experimental results indicate that the sensitivity of the setup is higher for aqueous form of the sample compare to the solid form of the sample. In 5L water howitzer of the setup, thermal and epi-thermal neutron fluxes gradually decreases with distances from the source. The measured average thermal neutron flux within 5 liter water howitzer is 3.8E+5 n/cm2 s.
References
- PGNAA in borehole logging and industrial process control report, Meeting organised by IAEA, IAEA-TECDOC-537, Vienna, 30 Jan. ? 3 Feb,1989.
- David Tin Win, Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) AU J.T. 8(1): 8-14 (Jul. 2004)
- T. G. Williamson, P. E. Benneche et.al., Characterization of an epithermal irradiation facility, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Volume 114, Issue 2, pp 387?392, September 1987
- M.N.Nasrabadi, G.Baghba, Neutron shielding design for 241Am?Be neutron source considering different sites to achieve maximum thermal and fast neutron flux using MCNPX code, Annals of Nuclear Energy, 59, September 2013, Pages 47-52
- Z.M. Badawy, Ahmed H.M. Solieman et.al, Modern Trends for Neutron Monitoring, Nature and Science 2013;11(5)
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Au-198-decay-scheme.svg
- Nguyen Van Hung at el. Studying, designing and making a system of experimental equipment in order to measure some physical characteristics of neutron, neutron activation analysis and dosimetry for serving training activities on nuclear manpower. Report on research project at Ministry level for 2010-2012 (in Vietnamese), 03/10/NLNT Code, Ministry of Science and Technology, 2012.
- Ho Manh Dung, Handbook on neutron activation analysis, Nuclear Research Institute (in Vietnames), Dalat,2007
- I.I. Bashter , W.M. El-Maamly et. al, Neutron Flux Measurements at the CFDF using Different Detectors, IX Radiation Physics & Protection Conference, 15-19 November 2008, Nasr City - Cairo, Egypt
- Richard M. Lindstrom, Prompt-Gamma Activation Analysis, J.Res. Nat.Inst. Stand. Technol.98, 127(1993).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) IJSRST
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
