Fast Neutron Activation Analysis of gold by inelastic scattering, 197Au(n,n′γ)197Aum, by means of Plasma Focus device

The application of a Fast Neutron Activation Analysis (FNAA) technique on samples of pure gold, irradiated by a plasma focus of 7 kJ, has been investigated. The reaction was the inelastic scattering of neutrons, Au-197(n,n'gamma)Au-197(m). To avoid problems connected with peculiar features of the neutron emission from this kind of source, a preliminary standardisation of the method has been carried out. The results obtained have a practical interest in view of possible applications to the technology of extraction of minerals.