The 174Yb(n,γ)175Yb reaction: a convincing new argument for k0-standardization in absolute neutron activation analysis

2200 m/s cross-section (σ0) values for the 174Yb(n,γ)175Yb reaction show an astonishingly large scatter (60–141 barn) in the literature. A recent measurement for absolute γ-ray emission probabilities of 175Yb seems to explain this anomaly by revealing uncertainties of the same magnitude in earlier determinations. Cross-section measurements based mainly on the activation method are, therefore, re-evaluated and the general use of the k0-standardization method is again strongly recommeded for absolute neutron activation analysis.