neutronactivation

Neutron activation is a technique used for determining the elemental composition of a sample. It involves bombarding a sample with neutrons, typically from a neutron source such as a nuclear reactor or a neutron generator. When a stable isotope in the sample captures a neutron, it often becomes an unstable radioactive isotope. This resulting radioactive isotope then decays, emitting characteristic gamma rays and other radiation. The energy and intensity of these emitted gamma rays are unique to the specific isotope, allowing for its identification and quantification. By analyzing the emitted radiation, scientists can identify the presence and concentration of various elements within the sample. Neutron activation analysis is a highly sensitive technique, capable of detecting trace amounts of elements, and is often used in fields like archaeology, geology, forensics, and materials science. It is a non-destructive technique in many cases, meaning the sample can be preserved for further analysis after the activation process. The process relies on the principle that different elements have distinct nuclear properties, which can be exploited to detect them.