MIT-EAPS Neutron Activation Analysis and Radiometric Laboratory Contribution to Geosciences: Past, Present, and Future
- Department of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 (United States)
The Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Radiometric Laboratory's current system is described. This laboratory has been in continuous operation for the past thirty years. A review is provided about the laboratory's analytical participation in trace element geochemical studies of the earth's upper mantle, trace impurity studies of high purity materials, the provenance study of archaeological glass beads, trace multi-element analyses of standard reference materials, the preparation of synthetic analytical standards for Neutron Activation Analysis, and providing a training course in nuclear analytical techniques for environmental samples. The multi-element analysis by INAA consists of determining elements like the rare earths La, Ce, Nd, Sm Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb, Lu, and also As, Ba, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Fe, Hf, Hg, K, Mn, Na, Ta, Th, U. The projected future of the laboratory is explained in terms of its resources, expertise in high precision analysis of trace impurities for the material selection that is to be used in rare event physics experiments. For example, this 'surface' laboratory can be efficiently interfaced/integrated with a deep underground low background counting facility, especially in the initial stages.
- OSTI ID:
- 20719243
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 785, Issue 1; Conference: LRT 2004: Topical workshop on low radioactivity techniques, Sudbury, ON (Canada), 12-14 Dec 2004; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2060481; (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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