Isotopic patterns via neutron irradiation and gamma spectrometry of environmental samples

Abstract

This work is meant to evidence the possibility of studying isotopic patterns of various environmental samples by means of gamma-ray spectrometry following neutron irradiation with a small intensity source. Patterns have a natural component due to the natural radioactive series and an artificial one, obtained following neutron irradiation. The goal is to evidence a low cost, rapid and accurate method and show main corrections and optimizations needed to improve actual and future results that allow material tracking in some cases, including in-situ gamma spectrometry under water.

Keywords

• Environmental sample
• Isotopic pattern
• Neutron source
• Gamma spectra