Development of web software for determining element concentrations based on the k0 standardization method of neutron activation analysis

Abstract

This work presents the development and validation of the K0- WEB software, dedicated to the determination of elemental concentrations based on the k₀-standardization method of Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). This method, recognized for its high accuracy, enables multielement analyses of samples without the need for standards, relying on the precise characterization of facilities and the use of nuclear parameters such as k0- factors, Q₀, and decay constants. The system stands out for its innovative web-based architecture and the automation of nuclear data import, providing originality and operational autonomy. The software integrates essential corrections—such as cascade summing, geometry factor, and allows step-by-step monitoring of calculations, interactive visualization, and report generation. The validation of K0-WEB was carried out by comparing its results with those of the K0-IPEN program, previously submitted to an international intercomparison exercise of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), ensuring the reliability of the new system. The experimental part employed standardized data from IAEA-TECDOC-2026. Concentration, efficiency, and thermal and epithermal flux parameter calculations were performed according to methodologies established in the literature, with emphasis on the bare triple monitor method and the cadmium ratio method. Additionally, an uncertainty analysis based on error propagation and covariance matrix was applied. The results demonstrated the validation of K0-WEB, and it can be concluded that K0-WEB represents an innovative, accurate, and efficient solution for application in NAA laboratories.