ProposalDeepBlueMarine 2013

File:DBM 2013 V1.doc

Project Summary

We propose to measure the concentrations of several nuclei using photon activation analysis (PAA) and determine if there is a correlation between several coin samples and candidate mines that may have been the source for the silver in the coin. Based on previous work (insert NAA reference) and our preliminary results, we intend to focus on Gold, Irridum, and Strontium nuclei. PAA has been able to measure the content of nuclei in a sample to the level of parts-per-million (PPM). Elemental and matching analyses were successfully performed for a wide variety of samples including museum artifacts [1], fossils [2], forensic samples [3], agricultural samples [4], and various environmental samples [5-6]. PAA is an ideal tool for performing the above measurements due to its ability to measure PPM level concentration accuracies without destroying the sample as compared to other methods of detecting base elements [7 - 9].

Preliminary results

In March of 2013, three silver coins were provided by Deep Blue Marine to measure the spectrum of photon energies emitted by irradiated coins. These measurements were the first step towards using PAA to perform a multivariate statistical analysis that can test the origin of the coins.

Proposed Work

We are proposing to perform the following tasks:

1) Estimation of photon flux and prediction of activities

After the number of samples, their shape and mass is known, Monte-Carlo simulations will be performed to estimate photon flux through the samples and choose an optimum irradiation conditions, such as:

- positioning of the samples - time of irradiation - electron beam parameters, such as electron energy and average current

The simulations will be performed using special radiation transport software, MCNP, at the Idaho Accelerator Center computer cluster (12 nodes, 52 cores, 64GB of aggregate memory, and 108GHz of aggregate CPU power).

2) Sample irradiation and gamma-spectrometry

Once the irradiation conditions are established, samples (artifacts and ores) will be irradiated for a short time (10-30 minutes) for two purposes: do qualitative analysis of elemental composition and verify the predictions of photon flux and activities. After making sure the activities correspond to the predicted values the samples, together with the reference material, will be irradiated for 8-10 hours to maximize the sensitivity of the technique and minimize the detection limit. After irradiation, the samples’ elemental composition will be measured using high purity germanium detector. All the spectra will be stored.

3) Data analysis

Gamma spectra will be analyzed using Gamma-W software. Peaks in the spectra will be identified and concentration of each element will be calculated from the produced radioactivity. 4) Final report

All the activities will be described in details. We will provide the description of the experiment, raw spectroscopic data and a table of calculated concentrations of different elements. Error analysis will be performed and uncertainties will be included. The work undertaken as part of this proposal will be completed by May 1, 2013.

Bibliography

[1] C. Segebade, “Investigation of a medieval sword using photon activation analysis”, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 169, 1, pp 27-37, 1993 [2] V. Starovoitova, P. Cole, C. Segebade, “Multi-element photon activation analysis of fossil samples”, 2013 (in preparation)

[3] V. Starovoitova, P. Cole, C. Segebade, “Forensic evidence sample matching using photon activation analysis”, 2013 (in preparation)

[4] Z. J. Sun, D. P. Wells, C. Segebade, H. Maschner, B. Benson, “A provenance study of coffee by photon activation analysis”, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, in print, 2012

[5] Mamtimin M, Cole P, Segebade C. “Photon activation analysis of dust particles for environmental research and applications using the 44 MeV electron LINAC at the Idaho accelerator center”, AccApp ‘11—tenth international topical meeting on nuclear applications of accelerators, Knoxville, TN [6] Thümmel HW, Segebade C, Hirsch K., “Optimization of irradiation conditions for photon activation analysis of biological and environmental samples using a high power electron accelerator”, Biol Trace Elem Res., 43-45:141-9, 1994 [7] Segebade C, Weise HP, Lutz GJ (1987) Photon activation analysis. W. de Gruyter, Berlin

[8] Segebade, C., A Schmitt, B.F., “Analysis of high-purity material—A comparison of photon activation analysis with other instrumental methods”, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry. 113, 1, pp 61-76, 1983

[9] Neider, R., Dudzus, Th., Fusban, H.U., Jost, P., Reimers, P., Schmitt, B.F., Segebade, Chr., Wandelburg, K., Weise, H.P., “Comparison of photon activation analysis with other modern analytical methods as tools for the solution of actual analytical problems”, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 39, 1-2, pp 397-408, 1977  

PAA_DeepBlueMarine