Capture γ-rays from 60Co as multi γ-ray efficiency standard for prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis

The absolute emission probabilities of 49 γ-rays from thermal neutron capture in 59Co were measured in the energy range of 150–7500 keV. Two independent approaches were used to arrive at the number of captured neutrons. It has been proposed to use cobalt as a standard for absolute efficiency calibration of the detector over a wide energy range and as a suitable comparator in the k0-standardisation method of prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis work.