Contact:

  • Frank Asaro
  • (510) 486-5433

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Nondestructive methods of measuring the elements in a material are valuable in fields such as archaeology where altering the sample as little as possible is supremely important.

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) uses activated neutrons to bombard a sample, forming radioisotopes in the sample which decay by emitting gamma rays and particles. The signature of this decay is measured, and reveals the unique elements composing the sample. For 30 years, AETD researchers have pioneered the use of INAA, and other nondestructive techniques such as X-ray fluorescence in archaeology and paleontology.

Here are some links to articles about their work.

Herodion Street in Jerusalem
Head of a dinosaur.
The brass plate, attributed to Francis Drake (1579), was eventually determined to be a hoax.