Neutron activation of PF-1000 device parts during long-term fusion research

The neutron flux emitted from fusion devices induces many different nuclear reactions that can activate the vacuum chamber and irradiate operators. A γ-spectrometer was mounted inside the Plasma Focus (PF) PF-1000, the world's largest plasma focus facility, after completing a campaign. Qualitative analysis was performed following a lengthy γ-spectrum acquisition period. Instrumental neutron activation analysis identified the elemental composition of the vacuum chamber for use by a Monte Carlo N-Particle simulation. In this way, the radioactivity accumulated inside the PF-1000 as the function of time was calculated. (author)