Neutron irradiation of a NaI(Tl) crystal Available to Purchase

A series of measurements of nuclear beta and gamma radiation arising in neutron irradiation of a NaI(Tl) crystal is described. These measurements, which employ equipment items available in many advanced undergraduate physics laboratories, permit identification of prominent low‐energy prompt gamma radiations produced in the I¹²⁷(n,γ)I¹²⁸ reaction as well as certain other radiations interpreted as arising in deexcitation of states in I¹²⁷ excited by inelastic neutron scattering. In addition, a good determination of the Q value for beta‐minus decay of I¹²⁸ to Xe¹²⁸ can be made, and the K capture branching to the Te¹²⁸ ground state can be determined.