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Archaeometry at OSU’s Radiation Center |
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í The material is exposed to the neutron flux of the nuclear reactor. These neutrons result from the fission of the heavy U-235 nuclei which make-up the reactor fuel. |
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Neutron irradiation: |
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Other neutrons collide or interact with nuclei of elements present in the sample (through a process called neutron capture), forming compound nuclei in an excited state. The capture of a thermal neutron by an aluminum nucleus is expressed by the following equation: |
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On average, 2.5 extra neutrons are generated with every fission. One neutron is needed to perpetuate the fission chain reaction. |
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Fission |
