Determination of europium content in Li2SiO3(Eu) by neutron activation analysis using Am-Be neutron source

• Lithium meta-silicate is breeder materials for a fusion reactor.
• Europium is used for neutron dose estimation in a breeder blanket.
• It is important to determine amount of europium in lithium meta-silicate.
• Amount of europium in lithium meta-silicate was determined by neutron activation and off-line gamma spectrometry.

Circulardiscs of Li2SiO3 doped with europium were prepared and a new activation procedure for the neutron dose estimation in a breeder blanket of fusion reactor is described. The amount of europium in the disc was determined by neutron activation analysis (NAA) using an isotopic neutron source. The average neutron absorption cross section for the reaction was calculated using neutron distribution of the Am-Be source and available neutron absorption cross section data for the 151Eu(n,γ)152mEu reaction, which was used for estimation of europium in the pallet. The cross section of the elements varies with neutron energy, and the flux of the neutrons in each energy range seen by the nuclei under investigation also varies. Neutron distribution spectrum of the Am-Be source was worked out prior to NAA and the effective fractional flux for the nuclear reaction considered for the flux estimation was also determined.