Feasibility study on PGNAA experiments using a prototype neutron beam at Isfahan MNSR

Abstract

In this study, the feasibility study of Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) experiments at Isfahan Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR) has been done using a prototype neutron beam. This neutron beam was not originally created for this purpose, but previous studies on this neutron beam have shown that it has enough neutron flux to carry out some irradiations outside the reactor core. This prototype neutron beam provided a neutron flux of order 105 n·cm-2·s-1 and a circular diameter of 5 cm for the experiments. In addition, an appropriate setup for High Purity Germanium detector (HPGe) was done at the beam outlet, where the sample is irradiated. A simple shield was also installed to prevent radiation damage to the detector. Experiments were conducted for bulk samples of salt solution with different concentrations and the prompt gamma spectrums have been obtained and analyzed.

Design of an out-of-tank neutron beam line for prompt gamma neutron activation analysis at low-power Miniature Neutron Source Reactor

“…shield for the detector [12,13]. In the feasibility study, an out-of-tank prototype beamline was used to perform experiments and the neutron flux was in the order of 10 5 n•cm −2 •s −1 [12].…”

“…shield for the detector [12,13]. In the feasibility study, an out-of-tank prototype beamline was used to perform experiments and the neutron flux was in the order of 10 5 n•cm −2 •s −1 [12]. In order to increase the neutron flux for sample irradiations, some possible designs for extraction a neutron beamline from inside the reactor tank were done [14].…”