The LLNL rabbit: determination of trace element levels in polyethylene.

Rabbit facilities are systems that pneumatically transport a sample carrier (known as a rabbit) to and from a radiation source. However, trace impurities in the polyethylene (PE) rabbit may interfere with measurements of short-lived isotopes. Activated impurities with short half-lives as ²⁸Al interfere with the fission product γ-ray, therefore the rabbit cannot be measured immediately. Neutron activation analysis was performed on various PE samples obtained from different manufacturers and the highest quality PE was used to fabricate a high-purity PE rabbit. The impurities identified in the PE study were ²⁷Al, ⁴⁸Ca, ³⁷Cl, ⁵⁰Cr, ⁶⁵Cu, ¹²⁷I, ²⁶Mg, ⁵⁵Mn, and ³⁰Si. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]