FIELD: physics.
SUBSTANCE: invention can be used to detect a chemical element in an object by neutron irradiation of the object. The method involves neutron irradiation of the object using continuous emission of neutrons originating from an associated particle neutron generator (G1) and by emission of neutron pulses which are superimposed on the continuous emission of neutrons, where the neutron pulses originate from a pulsed neutron generator (G2) which generates neutron pulses of pulse duration T2, where two successive neutron pulses are separated by a duration T4, and where the continuous and pulsed emissions of neutrons on to the object produce gamma capture radiation and inelastic gamma radiation.
EFFECT: enabling simultaneous detection with maximum sensitivity of captured radiation and inelastic radiation and, as a result, satisfactory identification of all detected elements.
8 cl, 6 dwg
