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UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS Guest
2026-06-11 23:58 |
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Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2026 Meeting
Section: Nuclear and Elementary Particles Physics
Title:
Characterization of a Pu–Be Neutron Source and Its Potential for Elemental Determination in Biomedical Samples
Authors:
Sandra TUDURACHE, Denis BARBU, Mihaela PARVU, Ionel LAZANU
*
Affiliation:
Universityof Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, POBox MG-11, Magurele-Bucharest
E-mail
sandra.tudurache@s.unibuc.ro
Keywords:
Pu–Be neutron source; Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA); gamma-ray spectroscopy; neutron source strength; biomedical applications
Abstract:
This work presents the characterization of a plutonium–beryllium (Pu–Be) neutron source available at the Faculty of Physics and investigates its applicability in Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). The experimental study consisted of neutron activation of several metallic samples, followed by gamma-ray spectroscopic analysis of the induced radioactive isotopes.
The obtained gamma spectra enabled the identification of activation products and the corresponding nuclear reactions for each material. Based on the measured induced activities, the neutron source strength of the Pu–Be source was estimated and found to be of the order of 10⁷ neutrons per second, in agreement with the official source specifications.
In addition, the work highlights the potential of the Pu–Be neutron source when used in NAA for elemental determination in complex matrices, including biological samples. In this context, applications such as environmental exposure monitoring, nutritional studies, and biomedical sample characterization are considered, involving the assessment of trace and major elements in materials such as biological tissues, hair, and food products.
The method offers several important advantages, including its non-destructive nature and capability for bulk elemental characterization due to the high penetration of neutrons and gamma radiation. Overall, the results demonstrate that the Pu–Be neutron source represents a reliable and effective tool for neutron activation studies, with strong potential for elemental analysis in biomedical and environmental applications.
References:
[1] Z. R. Harvey, “Neutron flux and energy characterization of a plutonium-beryllium isotopic neutron source by Monte Carlo simulation with verification by neutron activation analysis,” M.S. thesis, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA.
[2] S. J. Boot, “Activation Detectors for Neutron Flux and Spectrum Determination,” United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), AERE Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK, Tech. Rep., Mar. 1977.
[3] NMI3 Neutron Research, “For chemical analysis: Neutron Activation Analysis,” NMI3 Information Portal.
[4] National Nuclear Data Center. (n.d.). NuDat 3.0 database. Brookhaven National Laboratory.
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