Application of accelerators in activation analysis in particular for characterization of pure materials

The principal means of activation, their potential performances and their special fields of application are reviewed briefly. The possibilities offered by charged particles and gamma-photons regarding the determination of light elements or other impurities in pure materials are surveyed. Examples of the evaluation of boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen or fluorine contents in metals (Na, Al, Ti, Ni, Cu, Zr, Mo, Ta, W, Pb, etc.), alloys (PbCuTe, PbSnCd) and semiconductors (Si, AsGa, InP, etc.) are given. For some of these products, the results obtained by nuclear methods are compared with values supplied by other analytical techniques. Once the concentration levels of these impurities fall below 1 μgxg-1, the superiority of the former methods appears clearly. (author)