How does neutron activation analysis (NAA) work?
Neutron activation analysis (NAA) works by using neutrons from a reactor to irradiate the atomic nuclei of elements within a sample. The irradiation process causes some of the atomic nuclei to become radioactive. Most radioactive nuclei will emit gamma rays at a rate dependent upon the number of radioactive atoms and the half-life. By measuring the emitted gamma rays, a trained analyst can identify the radioactive nucleus (i.e., and therefore infer the identity of the irradiated target nucleus) and determine the original number of atoms present (i.e., the concentration of the element). For additional information about NAA see a Web document on neutron activation analysis (NAA) or for much greater detail see : Glascock, M.D. (1998). Activation analysis. In Instrumental Multi-Element Chemical Analysis, Z.B. Alfassi (ed), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 93–150.
