Increased utilization of research reactor facilities without personnel expansion by a user-friendly system for routine instrumental neutron activation analysis

In order to exploit with sufficient efficiency an expensive tool as a nuclear research reactor, at the I.R.I. scientists from the applied fields are being encouraged and enabled to include nuclear methods in their own (non-nuclear) research projects. This has extensively been worked out in the IRI-system for routine instrumental neutron activation analysis. This system can be used by guests, without a prior knowledge of activation analysis, after only a short instruction period. By this approach the use of the described analysis system has resulted into a strong increase of the use of the reactor's irradiation facilities without the need for expanding the permanent staff. (author)