Number: 2001-075-1-500 (previous 570/26/98)
Title: Compilation of k0 and related data for NAA in the form
of electronic database
Task Group
Chairman: Vladimir
Kolotov
Member: Frans De
Corte
Completion Date: 2004 - project completed
Objective:
The k0-standardization of neutron activation analysis (k0-NAA), launched
in the mid 1970s at the INW, Gent and KFKI, Budapest, has nowadays a
fully operational and competitive analytical tool. Its principles and/or
its associated techniques for detector calibration and neutron spectrum
monitoring and/or its nuclear data library are implemented in some 50
laboratories worldwide. K0-NAA [its fundamental and its related topics
(nuclear data; calibration of the irradiation facility and of the Ge-detector;
software; installation and application in k0-NAA labs; etc.)] was the
subject of two International k0 Users Workshops (Gent, 1992; Ljubljana,
1996); this will be followed in 2000 by the third one organized jointly
by the IRMM/EU, Geel and the SCK-CEN, Mol.
The core of k0-NAA is its dedicated nuclear data library, in which
the central parameters are the k--factors (for the analytically useful
radionuclides and gamma-energies: recommended values with better than
2% uncertainty), but which also contains such evaluated quantitites
as Q0 (=I/s, e.g., resonance integral to 2200 ms-1 cross section ratio),
Er (effective resonance energy), decay scheme data (branching ratios,
internal conversion factors, etc.) for true coincidence correction of
cascading gamma-rays, not forgetting to mention such basic nuclear data
as half-lives, gamma-ray energies and occasionally some additional parameters
in case of complex activation/decay. The above k0-NAA library contains
experimentally measured k0-factors, and Q0-values can, by introducing
values for molar masses, isotopic abundances and absolute gamma-ray
intensities (emission probabilities) retrieved from up-to-date compilations
[IUPAC; ENSDF], be converted to a consistent and traceable data set
of (n,g) activation cross-sections (s) and resonance integrals (I).
Although in the past such tabulations were published in journals (JRNC,
1989) and presented at meetings (Mito, Japan, 1988; Ljubljana, Slovenia,
1996), it is without any doubt that an updated and electronically accessible
database, issued via an authoritative body such as IUPAC, would be a
highly valuable tool for neutron activation analysts--not only for those
applying k0-NAA, but in general when a need exists to have at one's
disposal a NAA-dedicated data library containing a consistent set of
relevant activation and decay data.
Progress:
The goal of the project was to make a compilation of recommended
k0 and related nuclear data in the form of an electronic
database (MS Access database management system). The selection of a
database of MS Access type is explained by its wide distribution as
a component of MS Office and the possibility to use internal programming
for data handling (viewing forms, exporting, multiple SQL queries,etc.).
Advantages of using MS Access are its extended capabilities for exporting
data in various formats, its support of SQL queries for extraction of
the needed data for those who use Excel as a media for computations
or use stand-alone special programs written in higher level programming
languages. Additionally, such a solution permits easy migration to the
MS SQL server, which may be interesting for those who use distributed
computations (including those accessible via the Internet). The architecture
of the database supports traceability of future data updating or appending,which
implies easy recomputation of analytical data using any set of data,either
the latest or previous ones.
The database is available in different forms: files IUPAC_k0NAA_v.4_Access97p.mdb
(for Access97) or
IUPAC_k0NAA_v.4_Access2000p.mdb (for Access2000).
> Download zip version - for Access97 (ZIP
file - 6.92MB) or for Access2000 (ZIP
file - 4.09MB)
Project completed - IUPAC Technical Report published in Pure
Appl. Chem.
76(10), 1921-1925, 2004
Last Update: 25 October 2004