Fifteen years of success: user access programs at the Budapest prompt-gamma activation analysis laboratory

The prompt-γ activation analysis (PGAA) laboratory of the Budapest Neutron Centre has been actively involved in national, international collaborations and EU-funded transnational access programs since 1999. The main applications are in material science, nuclear data measurement, method development, cultural heritage science and geology. PGAA was found to be ideal for the analysis of many light and medium-Z elements as major and minor components (down to 10–100 ppm), plus some traces, like H, B, Cl, Hg, noble metals and rare-earth elements. Being a real-time probing method, it is also possible to generate time- or spatially-resolved data. This paper reviews our activities in the past fifteen years, presents highlights of user-driven research projects and gives a summary about currently running and future access programs.