Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract

Activation analysis is a technique of elementary analysis in which samples are exposed to a high flux of neutrons, and the radioactivity induced in selected elements is compared with that produced in known standards. It has the following advantages: (1) wide applicability, (2) sensitivities ranging from 10^-6 to 10^-14 g, (3) absence of reagent contamination, (4) built-in checks on reliability, (5) possibility of determining individual isotopes, (6) reasonable cost. Its disadvantages include: (1) It is only a method of elementary analysis. (2) It needs a source of neutrons. (3) It is inapplicable to most of the lighter elements which activate to nuclides of short half-life.
Current trends in activation analysis include automation of techniques and the development of laboratory neutron sources. Applications are doubling every 3.3 years, notably in the fields of semi-conductor research, metallurgy, geochemistry, cosmochemistry and inorganic biochemistry.