Quantu-design and development of a software package dedicated to k0-standardized NAA

This work shortly describes the main steps involved in the design and development of the software package Quantu, created to conduct k0-standardized NAA. The package comprises a database as well as two individual programs. Quantu-MCA is dedicated to γ-ray spectrum analysis and Quantu-INAA is the interface for the database administration, also dealing with k0-method calculations. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was introduced in 1986 at the Radioisotopes Laboratory of the Nuclear Energy Center for Agriculture, Brazil. To improve accuracy and analytical capability, the multi-comparator method was adopted in 1989. Aiming at the advantages of the k0-standardization, the project for the introduction of k0-NAA was conceived in 1995 and implemented a year later, producing practical results in 1997. Although commercial microcomputer programs are available for k0-standardized NAA, an in-house software package, Quantu, was created to meet the particular laboratory conditions. The introduction of the k0-method involved efficiency calibration and neutron flux determination, in addition to software development, creating a self-sustainable system.