Abstract
The analytical potentiality of the combined use of high-energy photon activation and low-energy photon detection has been investigated by irradiating 36 elements with 30-MeV bremsstrahlung. The characteristic X-rays and low-energy gamma-rays from the activation products were measured with an intrinsic high-purity germanium detector, and the experimental sensitivities have been estimated. A comparison was applied to the results with the conventional gamma-ray measurements with a lithium-drifted germanium detector. The attenuation of the low-energy photons due to a sample matrix was also considered. Practical detection limits for several elements were evaluated by analyzing a biological standard reference material, NIST Orchard Leaves. For Ba, Br, I, Ni, Mo, Pb, Sb and Zn, detection limits were lowered by low low-energy photon spectroscopy. From the results, applicability and versatility of this method have been demonstrated.
