Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2017) 132: 86
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2017-11380-5

Technical Report

Research on the self-absorption corrections for PGNAA of large samples

Chengdu University of Technology, 610059, Chengdu, China

^* e-mail: yjb@cdut.edu.cn

Received: 27 September 2016
Accepted: 29 January 2017
Published online: 17 February 2017

Abstract

When a large sample is analysed with the prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) neutron self-shielding and gamma self-absorption affect the accuracy, the correction method for the detection efficiency of the relative H of each element in a large sample is described. The influences of the thickness and density of the cement samples on the H detection efficiency, as well as the impurities Fe₂O₃ and SiO₂ on the prompt ray yield for each element in the cement samples, were studied. The phase functions for Ca, Fe, and Si on H with changes in sample thickness and density were provided to avoid complicated procedures for preparing the corresponding density or thickness scale for measuring samples under each density or thickness value and to present a simplified method for the measurement efficiency scale for prompt-gamma neutron activation analysis.