A computer program for activation analysis

A computer program for calculating activation analysis results is described. The program comprises two gamma spectrum analysis programs, STOAV and SAMPO and one program for calculating elemental concentrations, KVANT. STOAV is based on a simple summation of channels and SAMPO is based on fitting of mathematical functions. The programs are tested by analyzing the IAEA G-1 test spectra. In the determination of peak location SAMPO is somewhat better than STOAV and in the determination of peak area SAMPO is more than twice as accurate as STOAV. On the other hand, SAMPO is three times as expensive to use with a Cyber 170 computer as STOAV.     

A technique for reducing interferences in epithermal neutron activation analysis

A new epithermal neutron activation technique is described. The technetium is based on the existence of non-overlapping resonance peaks in the neutron absorption cross-section spectra for the nuclides present in the sample to be analyzed. By this method it is possible to reduce some of the interfering activities with respect to the sought activity by using appropriàte filters. An experiment has been carried out to demonstrate the validity of the technique.     

Data analyzer computer program for neutron activation analysis

In order to save time, manpower and minimize human error, a new computer program was designed, built and implemented using Visual Basic 6.0. The new program automatically reads and recognizes all the information in the “peak reports” from Gammaplus software, and is capable of automatically detecting the chemical isotopes within samples and calculating their concentrations and uncertainties. With minimum input from the user, the software has proven to be fast, reliable and user friendly.     

A large computer system for on-line data acquistion and analysis of data from analytical instruments

Summary Experience with a unique large dual processor system designed to acquire and analyze data from about 140 instruments in a research installation will be described. The system has been in operation for nearly 4 years serving a variety of analytical instruments including gas chromatographs, liquid chromatographs, tensile testing machines, differential thermal analyzers, and other miscellaneous instruments. The system also serves a large community of scientific time-sharing users, a substantial portion of which reduce data and carry out scientific calculations on data acquired off-line on paper or magnetic tape. Unique features of the system are long distance transmission of analog data, retention of raw data for reanalysis, post processing of data into material balance, kinetic or statistical equations, interactive graphical display of the data acquired on-line and the ability to monitor instrument performance. Another unique features is the ability to develop new analysis programs in time-sharing without fear of jeopardizing the integrity of the data collection process.     

A computer program for automatic gamma-ray spectra analysis with isotope identification for the purpose of activation analysis

A FORTRAN IV program for a PDP-9 computer, with 16 K storage capacity, is developed performing automatic analysis of complex γ-spectra, taken with Ge(Li) detectors. It searches for full energy peaks and evaluates the peak areas. The program features an automatically performed isotope identification. It is written in such a flexible manner that after reactor irradiation, spectra from samples of any composition can be evaluated for activation analysis.     

A new microcomputer program for processing data in neutron activation analysis

A new utility program for processing data in neutron activation analysis (NAA) has been developed for use on MS-DOS microcomputers. Peak areas are read from ASCII data files of gamma-ray spectra which have been processed by a Gaussian peak fitting program, GAMANAL-PC. Elemental concentrations are then calculated by this new program, QUACANAL, via a semi-absolute algorithm that uses pre-determined activation constants. User-defined ASCII library files are employed to specify the elements of interest required for analysis, and (n, p) and (n, ) interferences are taken into account. The program has been written in turbo PASCAL, is menu driven and contains options for processing data from cyclic NAA. An interactive philosophy has been used in designing the program.Sabbatical address for 1991/1992.     

A comparative study of computer programs used for analyzing gamma-ray spectra in activation analysis

The paper describes the results of a comparison of programs, used for analyzing γ-ray spectra. Testspectra were measured and distributed to a group of specialists for activation analysis. The values of the calculated peak areas were collected and compared. The detailed results are presented in the paper, generally one can say, that the agreement is better with intense peaks than with weak ones and that with overlapping peaks many of the programs fail.     

CLP-type data validation guidelines for neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis data quality must be validated to serve evidentiary purposes for environmental restoration and health protection projects. This paper gives a basis for determining the technical validity of neutron activation analysis data.     

NADA: A versatile PC based program for neutron activation data analysis

We have developed a PC based program for neutron activation data analysis using the FORTRAN and C languages. The routines are based on creating files associated with conventional ORTEC hardware and output software. The main features of the program include radionuclide identification, and the use of semi-automatic integration or the peak fitting SAMPO routine. Other developments are hard and soft copy records for detailed sample identification and particular irradiation, decay and counting procedures. Flux variations, high deadtime corrections, counting geometries, spectral and nuclear interferences, as well as uranium fission interferences are also automatically accounted for. The data output includes concentration values in %, ppm, g or ppb units with associated errors, while detection limits for each individual sample are indicated. Further data output can easily be generated which can be imported to most spreadsheet programs for various statistical uses. A future implementation to the program will include batch-file processing and automated self-absorption calculations for geological samples.     

A simple program for weighted linear regression applied to activation analysis data processing

A simple ALGOL program for activation analysis data handling is presented The program, although designed in principle for processing single-channel spectrometry data, may also be used for multichannel spectrometry, on condition that the peak area is computed separately. The calculations of instrumental error and standard deviation are carried out. The outliers are tested, and the regression line diagram with the related observations are plotted by the program.     

Neutron activation analysis: A simple versatile program for automated gamma spectrometry with a personal computer

A set of interactive routines has been developed to use a personal computer for instrumental neutron activation analysis. The program operates a multichannel analyzer by remote control and output concentrations, standard deviation and/or detection limit for each requested element. The program is able to combine data from several spectra, so that computation is continuous and takes less than 4 minutes for 15 elements. Reliable results have been obtained for low peak/background ratios encountered in atmospheric and marine particulate matter analyses.     

An algorithm for data processing in neutron activation analysis

An algorithm for processing NAA data is described. Input data are the output data from a multichannel pulse-height analyzer with a microprocessor. This algorithm permits to calculate the concentrations of the analyzed elements (using a standard or a standard curve), the error of concentrations in the analysis of one or several parallel samples and the sensitivity of the analysis according to Currie's criteria in counts, g and g/g. Some other intermediate data (e.g. corrected net area of the peaks, parameters of the standard curve) may have individual importance in differenct cases.     

A pictorial query language for use with any data base

The query language discussed can be used with any type of data base and requires neither familiarity with formal logic nor knowledge of the data-base organization. The system is illustrated by creating a data base for the Lactobacillus hierarchy from a reference manual.     

An automatic data acquisition and handling system for activation analysis

An automatic measurement and data handling system for activation analysis is described. The system comprises five automatic -spectrometers with sample changers, a central computer with four workstations and two communication networks, one to connect the gamma-spectrometers with the central computer and another to provide communication from the workstations to the central computer. The software comprises programs for control of the -spectrometers, communication between the different units, data handling and storage, interpretation of -spectra, calculation of element concentrations and creating reports.     

High-energy detector calibration data for k 0-neutron activation analysis

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - In k 0-neutron activation analysis, HPGe detectors have to be calibrated up to about 3.1 MeV, in order to properly determine the Na, Ca...     

A computer program system for kinetic analysis of non-isothermal thermogravimetric data: I. Data acquisition and preparation for kinetic analysis

FORTRAN software is described which enables the generation of rate of weight change data (DTG) from percentage weight change measurements (TG), obtained under non-isothermal conditions. The program also transposes this information into the dimensionless extent and rate of reaction at unit temperature intervals by means of a cubic spline interpolation. A simple search routine identifies all DTG spikes in the thermogravimetric record, and the temperature and extent of reaction at which the rate attains its maximum value. This total information serves as input data for the kinetic analysis software to be discussed in part II of this communication. An example of the application of this program to the pyrolysis of bituminous coal is presented.     

An automated activation analysis data acquisition system

An automated neutron activation analysis data acquisition system has been assembled from commercially available equipment. The modifications of the components needed to make this into a working system are described in the text. The main components of the data acquisition system are a sample changer, a Ge(Li) detector, a magnetic tape deck and a minicomputer based multichannel analyzer. The sample changer has a 200-sample capacity and can handle both solid and liquid samples. Software for controlling the data acquisition system is flexible, yet simple to use. The system has operated reliably for a year and has sharply reduced the effort needed for data acquisition.     

A gamma-spectrometry system for activation analysis

Based on a Preloaded Digital Filter operating on a 20% n-type HpGe detector with transistor reset preamplifier, and on a software implementation of a loss-free counting MCA, storing immediately into the multi-megabyte main memory of a low-cost 486-type PC, the new system enables the collection of up to 120 pairs of simultaneously recorded loss-corrected and non-corrected spectra of 16 k channels each, in a true sequence without time gaps in between, at a throughput rate of up to 140 kc/s. Intended for activation analysis of short-lived isomeric transitions, the system for the first time makes possible peak to background optimizations and even separations of lines with different half-lives without an a priori knowledge of sample composition by summing up appropriate numbers of spectra over appropriate intervals of time. The speed of this programmable system also made possible the direct comparison of two methods of real-time correction of counting loss, by simultaneous recording of LFC-corrected, ZDT^tm -corrected and non-corrected spectra together with their corresponding weighting factor distributions.