X-Ray Emission Analysis of High Atomic Number Elements: A New Excitation Source Using Monoenergic 477 keVγ-Rays from the 10B(n,α) 7mLi→7Li Reaction
- 1 January 1969
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Applied Spectroscopy
- Vol. 23 (1) , 1-4
- https://doi.org/10.1366/000370269774381274
Abstract
A new excitation source has been developed for x-ray emission analysis of high atomic number elements. A mixture of the sample and a small amount of boron-10 is irradiated in a thermal neutron beam and the resultant x radiation is recorded using a Ge(Li) semiconductor detector and a multichannel analyzer. The boron-10 undergoes neutron capture (10B( n,α)7Li, σ = 3840 b) producing a single excited state of lithium-7 in 92.5% of the captures. Lithium-7 m decays with a half-life of about 5×10−14 sec emitting a monoenergic 477 keV gamma ray. These gamma rays are in excellent geometry to the sample and are sufficiently energetic to excite the K x radiation of the highest atomic number elements known. The K x-ray spectra of several elements are presented along with a discussion of sample preparation and apparatus optimization.Keywords
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