Data reduction in the 100 mg 252Cf activation analysis facility at the Savannah River Laboratory

The automated absolute activation analysis technique developed at the Savannah River Laboratory is based on the ability to predict neutron capture reaction rates from tabulated cross sections and neutron spectra accurately calculated for the 100-mg 252Cf source. A series of computer programs comprises the data reduction system which: (1) reduces the gamma-ray spectra to lists of photopeak energies, areas, and statistical errors for all significant photopeaks, (2) assigns each gamma ray to the appropriate activation product by comparing experimental to tabulated gamma-ray energy, (3) converts each photopeak area into an elemental concentration using the experimental timing data, calculated reaction rates, detector efficiency, and activation product spectroscopic data in the absolute activation master equation. The data reduction system requires about one second of IBM 360-195 CPU time for the conversion of each 4096 channel spectrum into a qualitative and quantitative list of elemental composition. The accuracy of the algorithm is better than +- 15 percent for most elements. (auth)