Gamma-Ray Spectrometric Study of the Photoactivation Products with 20 MeV Bremsstrahlung

Abstract

Abstract All the elements in the periodic chart from lithium to bismuth except technetium, promethium and inert gas elements were irradiated for 1 hr with 20 MeV bremsstrahhing γ-rays generated from a linear electron accelerator, and the resultant radioactivities induced by the photonuclear reactions on these elements were studied by a method based on γ-ray spectrometry. The (γ, n) reactions were found to be the most prominent in this energy region of bremsstrahlung radiation. With light elements particularly, products of (γ, p) reactions were also found appreciable. For most of the elements studied, the γ-ray pholopeaks were experimentally determined for essentially important photoactivation products thereof with moderate half-lives. Sensitivity, selectivity and specificity of the present method are discussed from these data. The detection limit obtained is about 0.1/μg.