Abstract
The accelerator-based thermal-neutron activation analysis setup at KFUPM has an adequate thermal-neutron flux that can be advantageously used for the elemental analysis of a variety of samples including archaeological ones. The thermal neutrons are derived from the moderation of fast neutrons from the D(d,n)3He reaction which produces fast 2.5 MeV neutrons. A maximum thermal flux of about 2.5 × 106 n/cm2-s was achieved. For the purpose of determining the suitability of the setup for the analysis of contemporary and ancient coins, we carried out a feasibility study by irradiating a selected number of Saudi Arabian coins dating from 1958 to 1987 in the thermal-neutron flux. The induced gamma-ray activities were then counted using a HP-GMX detector coupled to a PC-based data acquisition and analysis system. The elements that were determined in the coins were copper (around 75%), nickel (around 25%), and manganese (<0.5%). Calibration curves were also established for these elements. The determined concentrations are in agreement with the data published by the Standard Catalogue of World Coins.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 43-48 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 1 A |
| State | Published - Jan 2007 |
Keywords
- Accelerators
- Gamma-ray spectrometry
- Neutron activation
- Numismatics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General