An E-learning tool as living book for knowledge preservation in neutron activation analysis
- PDF / 821,711 Bytes
- 5 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 17 Downloads / 162 Views
An E‑learning tool as living book for knowledge preservation in neutron activation analysis Borut Smodiš1 · Nuno Pessoa Barradas2 · Danas Ridikas2 · Peter Bode3 · Sheldon Landsberger4 Received: 16 December 2019 © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2020
Abstract The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has implemented a detailed E-learning on-line course in neutron activation analysis (NAA). Existing books and guidance documents on the concepts and execution of NAA are out of date and not sufficient anymore to ensure the transfer of current knowledge on its practice. The overall objective of the E-learning tool in NAA is to realize a ‘living book’, summarizing the basic concepts and providing practical information on the implementation of the methodologies which can be more easily updated than a common book, allowing also for visualization using contemporary media. Keywords Neutron activation analysis · E-learning · International Atomic Energy Agency
Introduction Neutron activation analysis (NAA) is a well-established analytical method for elemental analysis of materials. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), there are 224 operational research nuclear reactors plus 13 in temporary shutdown in more than 50 countries worldwide [1]. Out of those 237 reactors, 124 report having NAA facilities. The main textbooks and other key international scientific literature, dealing with both theoretical and practical aspects of NAA, mostly originate from the period from the 1970s to the 1990s [e.g., 2–7], with a limited number of publications in the 2000s [e.g., 8–10]. For example, Fig. 1 displays the decrease of NAA book publications, published during the
* Borut Smodiš [email protected] 1
Department of Environmental Sciences and Reactor Infrastructure Centre, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2
Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria
3
NUQAM Consultancy, Zwartsluisje 37, 3284 LK Zuid‑Beijerland, The Netherlands
4
Nuclear Engineering Teaching Lab, University of Texas, Pickle Research Campus, R‑9000, Austin, TX 78712, USA
last decades, based on knowledge of the authors complemented by a recent internet search [11]. Information on practical aspects of NAA is scattered over many publications published over several decades, that are difficult to retrieve and not always accessible to many institutions. Furthermore, most publications have not been made for educational purposes, so that the available literature often lacks dedicated parts on sources of errors, uncertainties and troubleshooting. Aging of experienced staff, and in particular retirement and/or departure of many experts in NAA without timely substitution by newcomers in the field, has recently led to knowledge gaps. As expertise in performing NAA largely depends on hands-on experimental education and training that requires a relatively long period of time, there is often insufficient overl
Data Loading...
