NAA Tungsten
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NAA Tungsten
Newcomers might be interested in this neutron activation experiment. When W-186 (one of the several naturally occurring 'stable' tungsten isotopes) is neutron irradiated some of the atoms pick up an extra neutron to become W-187 which is radioactive and can be measured easily with amateur equipment.
To make it even more interesting, the short half life of about 24 hours is dramatic.
Metal foil activation is directly applicable to Fusors as it is one of the standard primary tool to detect and measure neutron flux.
As this experiment develops, updates will be posted in this remote folder:
http://www.qsl.net/k0ff/01%20Nuclear%20 ... ctivation/
George Dowell
edit 5July2015- added Am-Be document
To make it even more interesting, the short half life of about 24 hours is dramatic.
Metal foil activation is directly applicable to Fusors as it is one of the standard primary tool to detect and measure neutron flux.
As this experiment develops, updates will be posted in this remote folder:
http://www.qsl.net/k0ff/01%20Nuclear%20 ... ctivation/
George Dowell
edit 5July2015- added Am-Be document
- Attachments
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- Am-241 Neutron Sources.pdf
- Am document
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Last edited by George Dowell on Sun Jul 05, 2015 1:45 pm, edited 4 times in total.
- Richard Hull
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Re: NAA Tugnsten
Nice plot of the activity for the activated W. Most fusors can't run long enough to activate Tungsten noticeably wihtout a special high sensitity gamma spec or GeLi detector. We tend to stick with Silver, Indium, Manganese and a couple of others with high cross section and very short half lives under 10 minutes or so. Rhodium would be fabulous if you could get enough to play with.
Richard Hull
Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
Retired now...Doing only what I want and not what I should...every day is a saturday.
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
Retired now...Doing only what I want and not what I should...every day is a saturday.
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Re: NAA Tungsten
George I ran across your site searching for GR-130 DOS software some time ago, a big thanks for making it available. With the software I was able to understand the file format for a custom nuclide identification library, honestly, it is something that should be done in a desktop but I had fun doing it just the same.
I have been wondering if gamma rays transfer energy to atoms in an all or nothing kind of way, or if they can be somewhat moderated. Do a few inches of lead widen the Full Width Half Max of a gamma peak and is there any chance of detecting a 6MeV gamma with a 3MeV instrument?
Thanks
Peter
I have been wondering if gamma rays transfer energy to atoms in an all or nothing kind of way, or if they can be somewhat moderated. Do a few inches of lead widen the Full Width Half Max of a gamma peak and is there any chance of detecting a 6MeV gamma with a 3MeV instrument?
Thanks
Peter
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Re: NAA Tungsten
Hi Peter, please send me a direct email so we don't clutter up the board with non fusor stuff.
George Dowell
GEOelectronics@netscape.com
George Dowell
GEOelectronics@netscape.com
Peter Schmelcher wrote:George I ran across your site searching for GR-130 DOS software some time ago, a big thanks for making it available. With the software I was able to understand the file format for a custom nuclide identification library, honestly, it is something that should be done in a desktop but I had fun doing it just the same.
I have been wondering if gamma rays transfer energy to atoms in an all or nothing kind of way, or if they can be somewhat moderated. Do a few inches of lead widen the Full Width Half Max of a gamma peak and is there any chance of detecting a 6MeV gamma with a 3MeV instrument?
Thanks
Peter
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Re: NAA Tungsten
Hi George
Having so low counts, I see a risk of electronic drift.
Can you design the experiment in order to avoid any changes in response?
Having so low counts, I see a risk of electronic drift.
Can you design the experiment in order to avoid any changes in response?
- Richard Hull
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Re: NAA Tungsten
Remember, this forum is all about radiation detection. Not just neutrons. Gamma Spec talk is always welcome as that is how we work with activated materials for identification.
GM counters, PMTs, Neutron detection counters or methodology are all viable in this forum. Fusion radiation detection efforts are very diverse and most radiation topics can readily be discussed here. As long as they can be used in part or fully for detection of fusion or radiation found in activation products.
Richard Hull
GM counters, PMTs, Neutron detection counters or methodology are all viable in this forum. Fusion radiation detection efforts are very diverse and most radiation topics can readily be discussed here. As long as they can be used in part or fully for detection of fusion or radiation found in activation products.
Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
Retired now...Doing only what I want and not what I should...every day is a saturday.
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
Retired now...Doing only what I want and not what I should...every day is a saturday.
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Re: NAA Tungsten
Thanks for the clarification Richard.
I'm interested in all aspects of nuclear and atomic ionizing radiation and electromagnetic non ionizing radiation detection and shielding.
George Dowell
I'm interested in all aspects of nuclear and atomic ionizing radiation and electromagnetic non ionizing radiation detection and shielding.
George Dowell
Richard Hull wrote:Remember, this forum is all about radiation detection. Not just neutrons. Gamma Spec talk is always welcome as that is how we work with activated materials for identification.
GM counters, PMTs, Neutron detection counters or methodology are all viable in this forum. Fusion radiation detection efforts are very diverse and most radiation topics can readily be discussed here. As long as they can be used in part or fully for detection of fusion or radiation found in activation products.
Richard Hull
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Re: NAA Tungsten update: 4 half-lives later
picture shows the first 12 hour scan and another 12 hour scan after 4 Days= 4 half lives of W-187.
George Dowell
George Dowell
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Re: NAA Tungsten
George
Those spectra are the best answer to my question.
Congratulations!
Roberto
Those spectra are the best answer to my question.
Congratulations!
Roberto
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Re: NAA Tungsten
Very nice work George... nice clean spectra. What are you using as a neutron source?
Jon Rosenstiel
Jon Rosenstiel
I like old-timey heavy electronics that you don't have to hold down
with one hand while pushing the on/off button with the other.
with one hand while pushing the on/off button with the other.