Computational investigation of time parameters and the effect of sample matrix on signal-to-noise ratio in cyclic neutron activation analysis for 77mSe in rice flour

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Nuclear Engineering Department, Faculty of Physics, University of Isfahan, Iran

2 Reactor and Nuclear Safety Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Cyclic neutron activation analysis (CNAA) is an advanced, accurate, and nondestructive method for the identification of short-lived radioactive isotopes that is based on the repetition of three steps of irradiation, transfer, and counting of the sample in the form of designed time cycles. The success of this method depends on the precise design and optimization of the time parameters of each step, as well as the correct knowledge of the composition of the sample matrix. In this study, using analytical equations, the effect of parameters such as irradiation time ti, transfer or decay time td, counting time tc, number of cycles n, and sample matrix structure on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) has been investigated. The results showed that for irradiation and counting times, there is an optimal range outside which the SNR parameter decreases significantly. In the case of transfer time, the findings also indicate that by reducing this time to values close to zero, the effective signal is maintained and the SNR increases. Also, increasing the number of cycles generally improves the SNR, although its growth rate decreases at high cycles. Since the composition of the sample matrix is not changed in this type of analysis, the elements present in it were also investigated. Analysis of the role of the sample matrix also showed that some elements present in the sample composition can affect the quality of the response through the production of interfering isotopes and spectral interference.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Radiation Safety and Measurement
Volume 14, Issue 3 - Serial Number 55
December 2025
Pages 163-172

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