The need for accurate minor isotope abundance values in reactor neutron activation analysis

The need for accurate isotope abundance values (θ) in reactor neutron activation analysis is discussed. A comparison of literature θ-values for target isotopes of low abundance is made and this shows a considerable scattering of data. Although the k₀ standardization method can offer some help in nuclear data evaluation, it must be concluded that, for some 14 analytically interesting minor isotopes, more reliable θ-values are required: ³⁶S, ⁵⁰Ti, ⁵⁸Fe, ⁶⁴Ni, ⁷⁴Se, ⁸⁴Sr, ¹¹²Sn, ¹²²Sn, ¹²⁴Sn, ¹³⁰Ba, ¹⁶²Er, ¹⁷⁴Hf, ¹⁹⁸Pt, ¹⁹⁶Hg.