Improvement of Neutron Activation Analysis Laboratory by Applying the Automation System

Improvement of Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) laboratory have been done by applying the automatic system and two types of research related to the development of NAA method. The automated sample changer was built for data acquisition of γ-Spectrometry at NAA laboratory of Center for Technology of Advanced Materials, National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (BATAN). The sample changer built has XY- Z type, and it can handle up to 200 samples. This sample changer is controlled by self-development software of BATAN Data Acquisition for γ-Spectrometry. This software can control not only sample changer but also access to multi-channel analyzer through Multiport II. Parallel with the automated system development, two research on Flux Mapping on Rabbit system and Epithermal INAA have also been done and presented in this report. The thermal neutron flux has been mapped on target position for two types of irradiation capsule. Meanwhile, Cd-ratio, ratio Boron-ratio, as well as, Advantage Factor, have been determined for a selected element on Epithermal INAA. Integration of automated systems and the development of methods have improved the NAA laboratory capacity in research and services. (author)