Industry Gauging Gamma - Radiography Neutron Activation Use of Tracers Radiocarbon Dating Consumer Products Benefits Safety		Industry : Neutron Activation Neutron Activation is a method of determining the concentration of elements in a wide variety of samples, accurately and precisely.  It is another example of how radioisotopes can be used to help scientists and researchers, and even criminal investigators.  The method is based on the detection and measurement of gamma rays, which have energies characteristic of the sample under irradiation by neutrons. The sample is exposed to a field of neutrons, which causes most of the elements within the sample to become radioactive ("activate") temporarily.  The emissions can be analyzed to determine exactly what that sample consists of, and the energy and intensity of the emissions reveal the identity of the element and the amount present, respectively, within the sample.  Every material has a unique signature so that it can be identified. Neutron activation is capable of simultaneous determination of many elements in samples even when parameters are selected to optimize detection sensitivity of one particular element.  Information on the additional elements is obtained with no additional effort or expense.  The process is routinely used to determine concentrations of as many as 40 elements in geological, botanical, and human and animal tissues. Neutron activation can also detect elements at extremely low concentrations, at sensitivity levels that are superior to those attainable by non-nuclear methods, on the order of parts per billion or better.  This process also allows us to identify the material much faster and for much less expense than with non-nuclear technologies. In addition, because of its accuracy and reliability, neutron activation is generally recognized as the "referee method" of choice when new procedures are being developed or when other methods yield results that do not agree. Worldwide application of neutron activation is so widespread it is estimated that approximately 100,000 samples undergo analysis each year.  A few examples include: Companies who process materials such as coal or concrete use neutron activation to analyze the material for quality Investigators, police, and other security groups use neutron activation to detect explosives, such as mines, and to detect drugs and weapons In medicine, and more specifically, in sports, neutron activation is used to measure the human body composition to study the workings of the human body The exploration industry will use neutron activation to explore ores, to find out what ores they encounter