14-MeV neutron activation analysis: Methodology, applications, and potential

Fast neutron determination of bulk composition of Mn-based Heusler alloys

Fast neutron activation analysis (FNAA) offers a new way to determine the bulk composition of Heusler alloys. Fast neutrons penetrate deep in the alloys, allowing to quantify the bulk elemental composition thanks to the characteristic gamma-rays emitted by the excited elements. In this work, a fast neutron generator (MP320) and a low-background high-efficiency well-type Ge gamma spectrometer are used to quantify the amount of Mn, Fe, Al, Si, and Sn in manufactured Heusler alloys. The alloy bulk composition is compared with the surface composition (micrometer depth range) obtained by classical energy dispersive X-ray analysis, demonstrating the interest of FNAA.

New generation non-stationary portable neutron generators for biophysical applications of Neutron Activation Analysis

BACKGROUND

Neutron sources are increasingly employed in a wide range of research fields. For some specific purposes an alternative to existing large-scale neutron scattering facilities, can be offered by the new generation of portable neutron devices.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

This review reports an overview for such recently available neutron generators mainly addressed to biophysics applications with specific reference to portable non-stationary neutron generators applied in Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA).

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

The review reports a description of a typical portable neutron generator set-up addressed to biophysics applications.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

New generation portable neutron devices, for some specific applications, can constitute an alternative to existing large-scale neutron scattering facilities. Deuterium-Deuterium pulsed neutron sources able to generate 2.5MeV neutrons, with a neutron yield of 1.0×10⁶n/s, a pulse rate of 250Hz to 20kHz and a duty factor varying from 5% to 100%, when combined with solid-state photon detectors, show that this kind of compact devices allow rapid and user-friendly elemental analysis. "This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Science for Life" Guest Editor: Dr. Austen Angell, Dr. Salvatore Magazù and Dr. Federica Migliardo".