title: Effects of reactor temperature and sample mass on the activation of biological and geological materials with a SLOWPOKE reactor.
abstract: Neutron activation analysis with a SLOWPOKE reactor relies on the stability of the neutron flux in the irradiation sites. Flux monitors were irradiated to measure the flux variation with the reactor temperature and with the amount of moderator in the irradiation vial. The thermal flux decreased by 2.7% for a 10 degrees C increase in reactor temperature. The thermal flux increased by up to 8% and the fast flux decreased by up to 13% depending on sample size and hydrogen content.
authors.affiliation: Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: StPierre
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013696:Temperature