Title: Research trends in neutron activation analysis in nuclear science and technology: a global perspective

Authors: Anil Sagar, B.S. Kademani, Vijai Kumar

Addresses: Scientific Information Resource Division, Knowledge Management Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India. ' Scientific Information Resource Division, Knowledge Management Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India. ' Scientific Information Resource Division, Knowledge Management Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India

Abstract: This paper quantitatively analyses the growth and development of research in Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) in terms of publications. As per the International Nuclear Information System (INIS) database during 1993-2007, a total of 6491 publications were published. The highest number of papers in a year (615) was published in 2004. The average number of publications published per year was 432.73. Japan topped the list with 605 publications followed by the USA with 468, Brazil with 449, China with 442, the Russian Federation with 324 and India with 316. The authorship and collaboration trend is towards multi-authored papers. Researchers in Japan, Brazil and China are more inclined to work in larger groups. The highly productive institutions were Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares (IPEN), Sao Paulo, Brazil with 281 publications; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India with 257; Institute of High Energy Physics, Academia Sinica, Beijing, China with 162; and Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai, Ibaraki, Japan with 140. The journals most preferred by the scientists for the publication of papers are the Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry with 1204 papers, followed by Applied Radiation and Isotopes with 116 papers, and Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research-A with 84 papers.

Keywords: neutron activation analysis; NAA; activity index; co-authorship index; CAI; collaboration patterns; collaboration rates; geographical distribution; publication productivity; quantitative assessment; literature review; nuclear science; nuclear technology; low radiation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2009.028532

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2009 Vol.6 No.2, pp.119 - 146

Published online: 18 Sep 2009 *

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