Radioactivation analysis in a nuclear reactor
The factors affecting the sensitivity of radioactivation analysis are analyzed and the technique is described and discussed. The flux and cross sections are not usually known well enough, so a weighed quantity of the element studied is irradiated simultaneously for calibration purposes. After activation two possible procedures may be used. For short-lived products, spectrometry can be applied directly. For other products a chemical separation is necessary before spectrometry because of the residual activity of the main bulk of the sample. Important sources of error, such as from neutron absorption by the sample, must be considered. The use of fast as well as slow fluxes is of some value in certain determinations. The advantages and disadvantages of the radioactivation method are pointed out. (T.R.H.)