Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 1:20 PM
McGavock's C
355

Forensic Neutron Activation Analysis

David C. Glasgow, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Neutron Activation Analysis has a long history of forensic and evidentiary investigation because of the accuracy, precision, and simplicity of the method. As a nuclear method of analysis, NAA is free from some chemical matrix effects and usually may be applied nondestructively. The High Flux Isotope Reactor provides one of the world's highest thermal neutron fluence rates available for NAA. The most common, and sometimes the most difficult, analytical challenge in forensics lies in comparing two subtly different materials. The unique properties of NAA and the superior sensitivity available using the HFIR combine to position the technique well for addressing forensic and evidentiary materials. The capabilities of the HFIR NAA facility for forensics and summaries of case work applications will be discussed. Special emphasis will include sources of error and components of error analysis.