A Method of Activation Analysis for Competing Reactions by Using Reactor Neutron Spectra (Activation Analysis of Manganese in Iron)

Abstract

In activation analysis by using a reactor, the interference of competing reaction often becomes troublesome. For example, in the activation analysis of manganese in iron, in which ⁵⁵Mn (n, γ) ⁵⁶Mn reaction is used, another reaction ⁵⁶Fe (n, p) ⁵⁶Mn also produces manganese-56. Therefore, it is necessary to know the production ratio of both reactions. These quantities depend on neutron spectrum in the reactor.
We derived a formula of activation analysis for competing reactions, and checked the practical usefulness of this method. The method described here has the follwing advantages:
(1) Activation analysis accompanied with competing reaction is practicable.
(2) The technique is very simple, because it is necessary only to measure cadmium ratio.
(3) Since competing products can accurately be measured by this method, high neutron density near the reactor core can positively be used for activation analysis.