Engineering Physics 4U04-Nuclear

Neutron Activation Analysis

DInusha Lokuliyana
Student #: 0657270

Submission date: February 10, 2011

Results
The gamma-ray spectroscopy was carried out with two different Germanium
detectors. The data obtained with the two detectors are not consistent. Therefore
the gamma-ray counts obtained overnight are only used in this analysis.

Co-57 and Co-60 are used to as the standard sources to calibrate the MCA. Co-64
decays by beta decay to the stable isotope Ni-60. The activated nickel nucleus
emits two gamma rays with energies of 1173keV and 1332keV. The two centroids in
the gamma spectrum of Co-60 correspond to abovementioned gamma energies. Co-
57 decays by electron capture to the sable isotope Fe-57 with gamma emissions of
122keV (87%) and 136keV (11%). The centroid in the gamma spectrum corresponds
to gamma energy of 122keV. The centriods and corresponding gamma energies are
indicated in table 1 below.

Table 1 Gamma peaks of Co-60 and Co-57

Gamma
Relati Error in
Radionucli Centro ray
ve Centroi
de id energy
Error d
(keV)
Co-60 665.48 6.67% 44.39 1173
755.95 6.08% 45.96 1332.5
C0-57 69 3.47% 2.39 122.06

The MCA is calibrated using the know gamma peaks of Co-60 and Co-57. The
calibration curve of MCA is illustrated in figure 1 below.

Figure 1 The MCA calibration

Peaks with low statistical error in centroids are selected to identify the unknown
irradiated isotope. Three such peaks are identified and plotted with error bars
below.

The slope of the line of best fit provides the decay constant (λ) for each peak. Then
the corresponding half life for each peak can be calculated as

T=ln2λ (1)
The first peak of interest occurs at the centroid 777±49. This corresponds to a
gamma-ray energy 1369±50keV.

Figure 2 First peak net counts

Figure 3 The statistical error in first peak net counts

λ
= 2.00E-05 disin/s
λ (max) = 1.00E-05 disin/s
λ (min) = 2.00E-05 disin/s
 3.4657E+ 577.6
Half life = 04 s → 2 min
HL (max) 6.9315E+ 1155.
= 04 s → 25 min
HL (min) 3.4657E+ 577.6
= 04 s → 2 min

The second peak of interest occurs at the centroid 983±60. This corresponds to a
gamma-ray energy 1732±105keV.

Figure 4 Second peak net counts

Figure 5 The statistical error in second peak net counts

λ
= 1.00E-05 disin/s
λ (max) = 1.00E-05 disin/s
λ (min) = 1.00E-05 disin/s

6.9315E+ 1155.
Half life = 04 s → 25 min
HL (max) 6.9315E+ 1155.
= 04 s → 25 min
HL (min) 6.9315E+ 1155.
= 04 s → 25 min

The third peak of interest occurs at the centroid 1562±136. This corresponds to a
gamma-ray energy 2753±240keV.

Figure 6 Third peak net counts

Figure 7 The statistical error in third peak net counts

λ
= 2.00E-05 disin/s
λ (max) = 1.00E-05 disin/s
λ (min) = 2.00E-05 disin/s

Half life = 3.4657E+ s → 577.6 min

 04 2
HL (max) 6.9315E+ 1155.
= 04 s → 25 min
HL (min) 3.4657E+ 577.6
= 04 s → 2 min
Statistical error in net counts

It is not possible to determine the gamma count instantaneously because no counts

will be detected in an infinitesimal time interval. The gross gamma counts are
obtained over a time interval of 300s. The distribution of gross counts is random
and follows the Poisson probability function. Therefore the estimation of standard
deviation of the distribution is1Gross counts .Then the error in background counts
can be expressed as 1Background counts

σnet counts2= σgross counts2+σBackground counts2

σCentroid=Centroid*realative error in centroid

The error in gamma-ray Energy is calculated using the error in centroids.

σGamma Energy2=σCentroidCentroid*Gamma Energy

The statistical error in net counts propagates to an error in decay constants. The
error in decays constants are calculated by assigning an upper and a lower value to
each decay constant as illustrated in figures 3,5, and 7 above.

Discussion
The gamma energy spectrum of the irradiated sample consists of many peaks. A
gamma ray will interact with a material in one of three different ways: photoelectric
absorption, Compton scattering, and pair production. In photoelectric absorption,
the incident photon transfers it energy to an electron and disappears. The resulting
photoelectron carries away most of the gamma-ray energy. The photopeaks
approximates a Poisson distribution. The Compton scattering is the scattering of a
gamma-ray off a free or an unbound electron. This results in a scattered gamma-ray
photon and a recoil electron. The incoming photon energy is divided between the
scattered photon and the recoiling Compton electron based on the scattering angle.
All scattering angles from 0 to π will occur resulting in a continuum of energies. The
Compton scattering generates a Compton continuum, and a Compton edge. As a
Gamma-ray with sufficient energy (>1.022MeV) passes close to a nucleus, it
interact with the nucleus to generate a positron-electron pair. The positron will
eventually collides with another electron and annihilates creating two gamma-rays
of 511keV each. [1] For a small detector, it is probable that both the gamma-rays
will escape from the detector before they can further interact with the detector. In
this case energy absorbed would be 1.022MeV and is shown as a double escape
peak in the gamma spectrum. For a medium detector, the probability is greater that
either gamma-ray will make a photoelectric interaction within the detector. In this
case energy absorbed would be 511keV and is shown as a single escape peak in the
gamma spectrum. For large detectors, the probability is of photoelectric interaction
is higher as both the gamma rays could make photoelectric interactions within the
detector. [2]

The photoelectric effect is the desired interaction for gamma-ray spectroscopy,

because the resulting photopeaks approximate the energies of various gamma-rays
emitted by a source. The photopeak’s centroid represents the gamma-ray energy
and its net area above background represents the total number of full-energy
interactions in the detector. The net area of the photopeak is proportional to the
mass of the emitting isotope. Three photopeaks with less than 10% statistical error
in centroids are selected for the gamma spectroscopy analysis. The first, second,
and third peaks occur at gamma-ray energies of 1369±50keV, 1732±105, and
2753±240keV respectively. The Radiation Decay V4 [3] software is used to
determine isotopes emitting gamma-ray energies mentioned above. The isotope
identification scheme is illustrated in Appendix A. The change in Net Counts over
time for each peak of interest is illustrated in figures 2, 4, and 6. The Gross Integral
value consists of Compton Scattering from higher energy peaks and natural
background in addition to the full energy peak count. Therefore the Net integral is
used instead of the Gross integral. The slope of the best fit line of the plot
ln[I(t)/I(0)] versus time provides the decay constant for each peak. The half-life of
gamma radiation sources responsible for each peak can then be calculated.
Statistical errors in net counts introduce a significant error to the decay constant of
a photo peak. Therefore measured half-life is not as accurate as gamma-ray energy.
A maximum possible half-life and a minimum possible half-life are calculated for
each peak. The peak 1 and 3 has a minimum possible half-life of 578 minutes and a
maximum possible half-life of 1155 minutes. The maximum possible half-life and
the minimum possible half-life of peak 2 are 1155 minutes. Each photopeak
corresponds to a gamma-ray energy and a half life. Then a given gamma source can
be identified to be responsible for a given photopeak provided that both the half-life
and the gamma energy of the source agrees with that of photopeak. According to
the isotope identification scheme outlined in Appendix A the only isotope that
satisfies all the requirements is Na-24. The unknown irradiated isotope is identified
to be Na-24. There second photopeak does not correspond to Na-24. Therefore the
second photopeak corresponds to a different isotope.

Na-23 is the only stable sodium isotope. Bombarding Na-23 atoms with neutrons
generate the radioactive active isotope according to the nuclear reaction
Na23(n,γ)Na24. The activation cross sections of Na-23 for neutron energies are
provided in figure 8 below. The activation cross sections are high enough for the
nuclear reaction Na23(n,γ)Na24 to occur. [4]
 Figure 8 The Na23(n,γ)Na24 activation cross section

The activation of the Na-23 isotope can be given by the expression.

NA+1=фσaAN0Aλ(A+1)[1-e-λA+1tR]e-λA+1t (2)

where ф = (4.3±1)E12 n/cm2/s, λ(A+1) = 1.86E-5 s-1, tR = 7 s, and σaA is provided in

figure 8 for different neutron energies. Equation 2 is derived in Appendix B.

The neutron activation analysis could be used to determine not only the presence of
various elements in an original unirradiated sample but also each element’s
concentration. The sample is first exposed to a field of neutrons. This causes most
of the neutrons within the sample to become temporarily radioactive. Then
emissions from the sample can be used to determine what the sample consists of.
Individual external standards of elements in the sample are then developed. The
standards are irradiated using the same neutron source. The intensity of emissions
from the sample is then compared with intensities of emissions from the standards.
The difference in intensity provides information on concentrations of elements in
the sample. If the peaks of an element of interest are buried in the signal from other
isotopes, chemical separation processes such as selective absorption of elements
are required. Chemical separation procedures are performed after the activation.
They remove unwanted elements from the sample. [5]

The change in flux shape affects the accuracy of neutron activation analysis. The
concentration of an element in the sample can be obtained using a different method
other than activation analysis such as determining the Fe content with X-ray
spectrometry. Then this measurement can be used to correct for the effects of flux
gradients in neutron activation analysis. [6]

Conclusion
A gamma ray will interact with a material in one of three different ways:
photoelectric absorption, Compton scattering, and pair production. Therefore the
gamma spectrum has many features. The gamma spectrum features are used in
neutron activation analysis. The neutron activation analysis is a method of
determining the content and concentration of elements in a sample. Neutron
Activation is used identify an unknown sample. An unknown stable element is
irradiated and the gamma spectrum of the irradiated isotope is analyzed. In neutron
activation measurements the error in half-life is significantly higher than the error in
gamma-ray energies. According to the gamma spectrum the unknown radioactive
isotope is identified to be Na-24. Bombarding Na-23 atoms with neutrons generate
the radioactive active isotope according to the nuclear reaction Na23(n,γ)Na24. Then
the original sample is identified to be Na-23. The neutron activation process can be
improved by chemical separation processes.

Appendix A
Isotope identification scheme

Isotopes emitting a gamma-ray with energy,

1369±50keV 1732±105keV 2753±240keV

There are no Isotopes emitting gamma-rays with energies 1369±50keV and

1732±105keV.

Isotopes emitting gamma-rays with energies 1369±50keV and 2753±240keV.

Isotopes emitting gamma-rays with energies 1732±105keV, and 2753±240keV

There are no isotopes emitting gamma-rays with all three energies 1369±50keV,
1732±105keV and 2753±240keV.

The half-life of peak one lies between 578 and 1155. The only isotope with a half-life
that lies between this range is Na-24 (half-life = 898 minutes).

The half-life of peak two is 1155 minutes. There are no isotopes corresponding to
this half-life.

The half-life of peak three lies between 578 and 1155. The only isotope with a half-
life that lies between this range is Na-24 (half-life = 898 minutes).
Reference
[1] I. Rittersdorf. Gamma Ray Spectroscopy. Nuclear Engineering & Radiological
Sciences, 2007. [Online]. Available: http://www-
personal.umich.edu/~ianrit/gammaspec.pdf

[2] University of Guelph. High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy. [Online].

Available:
http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/~detong/phys3510_4500/highres_fall07.pdf

[3] Charles Hacker, Radiation Decay. [ONLINE SOFTWARE]. Griffith University,

Australia.

[4] H.O. Menlove, K.L. Coop, and H.A. Grench, “Neutron Radiative Capture Cross Sections for
Na23, Mn55, In115, and Ho165 in the Energy Range 1.0 to 19.4 MeV.” Physical Review, volume
163, no 4, November 1967.

[5]M.A. Lea, D.G. Walker, “The Concentrations of Cobalt, Copper, Iron and Zinc in some
Normal Human Tissues as

[6] B.W. Chappella, J.M. Hergta, “The use of known Fe content as a flux monitor in
neutron activation analysis.” Chemical Geology, volume 78, issue 2, December
1985.