Designation:E1297−08(Reapproved2013)StandardTestMethodforMeasuringFast-NeutronReactionRatesbyRadioactivationofNiobium1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE1297;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thistestmethoddescribesproceduresformeasuringreactionratesbytheactivationreaction93Nb(n,n')93mNb.1.2Thisactivationreactionisusefulformonitoringneu-tronswithenergiesaboveapproximately0.5MeVandforirradiationtimesuptoabout30years.1.3Withsuitabletechniques,fast-neutronreactionratesforneutronswithenergydistributionsimilartofissionneutronscanbedeterminedinfast-neutronfluencesaboveabout1016cm−2.Inthepresenceofhighthermal-neutronfluencerates(>1012cm−2·s−1),thetransmutationof93mNbduetoneutroncaptureshouldbeinvestigated.Inthepresenceofhigh-energyneutronspectrasuchasareassociatedwithfusionandspalla-tionsources,thetransmutationof93mNbbyreactionssuchas(n,2n)mayoccurandshouldbeinvestigated.1.4Proceduresforotherfast-neutronmonitorsarerefer-encedinPracticeE261.1.5Fast-neutronfluenceratescanbedeterminedfromthereactionratesprovidedthattheappropriatecrosssectioninformationisavailabletomeettheaccuracyrequirements.1.6ThevaluesstatedinSIunitsaretoberegardedasstandard.Nootherunitsofmeasurementareincludedinthisstandard.1.7Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisstandardtoestablishappro-priatesafetyandhealthpracticesanddeterminetheapplica-bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.2.ReferencedDocuments2.1ASTMStandards:2D1193SpecificationforReagentWaterE170TerminologyRelatingtoRadiationMeasurementsandDosimetryE181TestMethodsforDetectorCalibrationandAnalysisofRadionuclidesE185PracticeforDesignofSurveillanceProgramsforLight-WaterModeratedNuclearPowerReactorVesselsE261PracticeforDete...
