Nuclear charge detection

Since the detected particle is the recoil, it is possible to discriminate between different elements by their nuclear charge and mass. Different detection techniques such as ToF and gas detectors (Bragg detector or d /dx detector) have been used to achieve the separation. 

RCT are designed to successfully solve a whole number of tasks in nuclear power when testing fuel elements, in aviation and space industry when testing construction materials, nozzles and engine units, turbine blades and parts, in electromechanical industry-cables switching elements, electric motors in defense sphere- charges, equipment in prospecting for research of rock distribution and detection of precious stones in samples. 

A beam of charged particles (an ion beam) with an energy from a few hundred keV to several MeV is produced in an accelerator and bombards a sample. Nuclear reactions with low-Z nuclei in the sample are induced by this ion beam. Products of these reactions (typically p, d, t, He, a particles, and y rays) are detected, producing a spectrum of particle yield versus energy. Many (p, a) reactions have energies that are too low for efficient detection. In these cases, the associated y rays are detected instead. Important examples are ... 

In contrast to PIXE and RBS, where forces are respectively electromagnetic and electrostatic, this kind of microanalysis uses low range nuclear forces. The analysis is based on the detection of the y-rays emitted from nuclei that are in an excited state following a charged particle induced nuclear reaction. 

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