Identification of radioactive isotopes in reactor pool water

A lithium-drifted germanium detector has been used to identify 36 radioactive isotopes in a sample of pool water from the Western New York Research Center reactor. A total of 100 peaks were observed in gamma-ray spectra taken over a period of 3 months. The primary methods of production of the isotopes are fission and the (n, γ) reaction. Two isotopes were produced by the (n, p) reaction and possibly one by the (p, n) reaction. Fission products are present in the water as a result of a fuel element cladding failure. The elements which were activated are either in the water as a result of corrosion of material in the pool, or in water soluble compounds of elements from material in the pool.