IMPROVED SHORT-LIVED NUCLIDE ACTIVATION-ANALYSIS

A novel technique has been developed to increase the sensitivity, precision and accuracy of short-lived nuclide activation analysis and especially of delayed fission neutron counting, by improving the counting statistics. This has been achieved by approaching the irradiated sample to the detector during the counting period in order to compensate for the rapid radioactive decay by variation of the counting efficiency, permitting prolongation of the counting period with constant count rate. The sample holder movement with approximately exponentially decreasing velocity is implemented by a variable DC motor with a rotary to linear movement converter, which is being replaced by a more reliable stepping motor.