A non-destructive nuclear method for the determination of nitrogen in solids

Abstract The nitrogen concentration in diamonds and in SiC was determined by charged particle activation analysis. The activation reaction used was 14 N (α, n ) 17 F, the decay proceeding with the following characteristics: 17 F → 17 O + β + + ν (τ 1 2 = 66 sec ) . The annihilation radiation was detected. Nitrogen concentrations between ∼5 ppm and ∼2000 ppm were found in the samples.