title: Opportunities for innovation in neutron activation analysis.
abstract: Neutron activation laboratories worldwide are at a turning point at which new staff has to be found for the retiring pioneers from the 1960s-1970s. A scientific career in a well-understood technique, often characterized as 'mature' may only be attractive to young scientists if still challenges for further improvement and inspiring new applications can be offered. The strengths and weaknesses of neutron activation analysis (NAA) are revisited to identify opportunities for innovation. Position-sensitive detection of elements in large samples, Monte Carlo calculations replacing the use of standards, use of scintillator detectors and new deconvolution techniques for increasing the sensitivity are examples of challenging new roads in NAA. Material science provides challenges for the application of NAA in both bulk samples, ultrathin layers and ultrapure materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation, Radionuclides and Reactors, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Reactor Institute Delft, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bode
keywords: Innovation; Large samples; Material science; Metrology; Neutron activation analysis; Position-sensitive; Scintillator