Measurements of epithermal neutron properties of ITU Triga Mark II research reactor

The k(0) standardization method is one of the most commonly used neutron activation analyses to determine the concentrations of elements in the sample. To perform this method, it is required to know the neutron spectrum parameters such as epithermal neutron flux shape factor (alpha) and thermal to epithermal neutron flux ratio (f). In this study, the alpha and f parameters were determined using the Cd-ratio dual monitor method and bare triple monitor method. In both methods, irradiation studies were performed in the central thimble at the ITU Triga Mark II research reactor. A gamma-ray counting system (HpGe detector) was used for measuring foil activation values. The selected monitors were Au-197 and Zr-94 for the Cd-ratio dual monitor method and Au-197/Zr-94/Zr-96 for the bare triple monitor method. The a and f parameters were 0.221 +/- 0.018 and 41.826 +/- 4.701 for Au-197/Zr-94 (724 keV) monitors, 0.231 +/- 0.019 and 42.626 +/- 4.791 for Au-197/Zr-94 (756 keV) monitors, 0.228 +/- 0.025 and 43.917 +/- 3.596 for Au-197/Zr-94/Zr-96 monitors, respectively.