Elemental analysis of sand samples by photoactivation and detection of photofission products

The purpose of this study is two-fold: elemental analysis of sand samples and detection of photofission products by photoactivation induced by high energy bremsstrahlung. The sand samples were collected at twelve different locations at the coastal region of Antalya, Turkey. The samples were exposed to bremsstrahlung photons at an end point energy of 18 MeV from a clinical electron linear accelerator (cLINAC). The exposure periods ranged between 1 and 1.5 hours. High-resolution gamma-ray spectra were obtained using a standard HPGe spectrometer. Two different computer programs were applied for spectrum processing. Among twelve samples qualitative detection of major and trace components of four samples was performed whilst eight samples were analysed qualitative and quantitatively. It is observed that (γ,n), (γ,2n), (γ,p) and (γ,γ`) reactions have taken place with the stable elements in sand samples by photoactivation analysis. (γ,n), reaction was observed for 88Sr, 55Mn, 48Ca, 58Ni, 90Zr, 140Ce, 238U, 127I and 136Ba elements, (γ,2n) reaction was observed for 79Br element, (γ,p) reaction was observed for 57Fe, 44Ca, 25Mg and 68Zn elements and (γ,γ`) reaction was observed for 87Sr and 135Ba elements. However, no fission products could be detected in this study.