Determining concentrations of elements with different reaction channels in photon activation

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Photon activation analysis (PAA) involves nuclear reactions producing radioisotopes with characteristic gamma rays.
• Different reaction channels can activate the same element, leading to spectral interferences or opportunities for analysis.
• The feasibility of using multiple reaction channels for elemental concentration determination was explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the theoretical possibility of determining elemental concentrations using different photon activation reaction channels.
• To investigate the practical advantages and limitations of selecting specific PAA reaction channels.
• To analyze the factors influencing the relative intensities of these reaction channels (N-values).

Main Methods:

• Conducted photon activation experiments using an electronic linear accelerator (LINAC) with peak energy around 30 MeV.
• Utilized samples and references with known concentrations, employing different photon converters.
• Calculated PAA data using the internal monitor method and determined N-values.

Main Results:

• Confirmed the advantages of strategic PAA reaction channel selection.
• Demonstrated that measuring the same element via different reaction channels can be beneficial in certain contexts.
• Calculated N-values and compared them with existing data, noting their dependence on electron beam parameters and converter design.

Conclusions:

• The selection of PAA reaction channels is crucial for accurate elemental analysis.
• Utilizing multiple reaction channels for a single element offers potential advantages in specific analytical scenarios.
• Electron beam parameters and photon converter design significantly influence the relative intensities of PAA reaction channels.