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Nuclear @ McMaster

Delayed Neutron Counting

DNC is a service provided by the Centre for Neutron Activation Analysis (CNAA), and is most commonly used for uranium content analysis.

Delayed Neutron Counting (DNC), is most commonly used for determining uranium content in soil samples for the uranium mining industry. Unlike of the lighter elements in the Periodic Table, when uranium absorbs a neutron, the neutron capture event is followed immediately by nuclear fission. As the uranium atom splits, it ejects an average of 2.8 neutrons per fission; by quantifying (counting) the ejected neutrons, the amount of uranium initially present in the sample can be determined.

To gain access to this service, please contact reactor@mcmaster.ca