DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM FOR FAST-NEUTRON CYCLIC ACTIVATION-ANALYSIS

We have developed a computer-controlled system for carrying out cyclic neutron activation analysis using fast neutrons. The system is basically a mechanical, pneumatic transfer system in which the sample is cycled between an irradiation position and a Ge detector. The sequence of movements between these two position is under computer control as is the timing of the various parts of the cycle. In addition, flux monitoring and correction are carried out using a computer-controlled scaler and the gamma-ray counting is similarly controlled. The key to this control is the use of an interface containing a DCP BUS which receives signals from various valves for control of sample movement or to the scaler or ADC to initiate counting storage or calculations of the data. Finally, some preliminary data obtained with this technique are presented for the inelastic scattering reactions on barium.