High-energy Gamma Photons Research Articles

The non destructive determination of iodine in soils and biological materials by high energy gamma-photon activation

A non destructive high energy gamma photon activation technique has been developed for the determination of iodine in a wide range of natural materials. Results are presented and compared with those obtained by independent analytical techniques. Studies of the loss of iodine from soils on heating are also presented. The sensitivity and precision of the technique are discussed and its practical aspects described.

Benchmark data for high energy gamma photon penetration through low- Z materials

Scalar flux spectra through graphite and aluminium from a 6.13 MeV photon isotropic uniform disc source have been obtained both by refined experimentation and Monte-Carlo calculations. Penetrations of up to 3 mean free paths in graphite and over 4 mean free paths in aluminium are presented. The emerging spectra show domination by Compton interactions. A technique is described for measuring scalar flux spectra using an unshielded NaI(Tl) spectrometer coupled to the unfolding code GAMAK plus a mathematically derived detector cross section.

The use of non-destructive high energy gamma photon activation for trace element survey analysis

An empirical study has been made of the potential of high energy γ photon activation and high resolution γ-ray spectrometry for the survey analysis of trace elements in a variety of materials. Human blood, urine, bone ash, standard glass (NBS, SRM 612) and air particulates, along with synthetic multi-element standards, have been studied following irradiation with γ photons of maximum energy 17–45 MeV. Elements found to be suited to determination by γ activation include Sb, As, Bi, Cd, Cs, Ca, Ce, Cr, Fe, Au, Pb, Mg, Mo, Ni, Nb, Rb, Sr, Tl, Ti, Tm, Zn and Zr. γ spectra, elemental concentrations measured, and/or limits of detection observed, for the matrices studied are given.

The determination of oxygen and carbon in indium phosphide by high-energy gamma-photon activation

High-energy gamma-photon activation has been used for the determination of carbon and oxygen in single-crystal indium phosphide at concentrations in the range 0·01 to 0·1 p.p.m. m/m and less than 0·05 p.p.m. m/m, respectively.