Implementation of k₀-INAA standardisation at ITU TRIGA Mark II research reactor, Turkey based on k₀-IAEA software

The purpose of this study is to test the applicability of k₀-INAA method at the Istanbul Technical University TRIGA Mark II research reactor. The neutron spectrum parameters such as epithermal neutron flux distribution parameter (α), thermal to epithermal neutron flux ratio (f) and thermal neutron flux (ϕ_th) were determined at the central irradiation channel of the ITU TRIGA Mark II research reactor using bare triple-monitor method. HPGe detector calibrations and calculations were carried out by k₀-IAEA software. The α, f and ϕ_th values were calculated to be -0.009, 15.4 and 7.92·10¹²cm^-2s^-1, respectively. NIST SRM 1633b coal fly ash and intercomparison samples consisting of clay and sandy soil samples were used to evaluate the validity of the method. For selected elements, the statistical evaluation of the analysis results was carried out by z-score test. A good agreement between certified/reported and experimental values was obtained.