Measurement of X-ray production cross-sections of Ti,V, Cr,Mn, Fe,Co, Ni and Cu molecules

K shell X-ray production cross-sections in the Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu in the molecules were studied at 59.5 keV excitation energy by using a Si(Li) detector ( FWHM = 155 eV at 5.96 keV). The present results are compared with other theoretical values.     

Determination of elements in some lichens growing in Giresun and Ordu province (Turkey) using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

The concentration of five different elements in six lichens species of different regions in Giresun and Ordu (Turkey) was determined using the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence method. A radioisotope excited X-ray fluorescence analysis using the method of multiple standard addition is applied to the elemental analysis of lichens. An annular 50 mCi ²⁴¹Am radioactive source and an annular 50 mCi ⁵⁵Fe radioactive source were used for excitation of characteristic K X-rays. An Si(Li)detector which has a 147 eV full-width at half-maximum for 5.9 keV photons was used for intensity measurements. A qualitative analysis of spectral peaks showed that the samples contained potassium, calcium, titanium, iron, and barium.     

Chemical effect on the K shell fluorescence yield of Fe, Mn, Co, Cr and Cu compounds

Chemical effects on the K shell fluorescence yields of Fe, Mn, Co, Cr and Cu compounds were investigated. Samples were excited using 59.5 keV energy photons from a²⁴¹ Am radioisotope source. K X-rays emitted by samples were counted by a Si(Li) detector with a resolution 160 eV at 5.9 keV. Chemical effects on the K shell fluorescence yields (ωk) for Fe, Mn, Co, Cr and Cu compounds were observed. The values are compared with theoretical, semiempirical fit and experimental ones for the pure elements.     

Effective atomic numbers for CoCuNi alloys using transmission experiments

Effective atomic numbers for CuCoNi alloys against changing Ni contents were measured in the X-ray energy range from 15.746 to 40.930 keV. The gamma rays emitted a ²⁴¹Am point source have been send on absorbers to be used transmission arrangement. The X-rays were counted by a Si(Li) detector with a resolution of 160 eV at 5.9 keV. The compositions of the Ni films were determined to be 0.03, 0.47, 0.62, 1.23, 1.22 and 1.6 by a scanning electron microscopy in CuCoNi alloys prepared against changing Ni contents. CoCuNi alloy films were prepared with an electrodeposition technique. Also, the total effective atomic numbers of each alloy were estimated using mixture rule. The measured values were compared with estimated values for alloys.     

Superconducting tunnel junctions as detectors for high‐resolution x‐ray spectroscopy

Superconducting tunnel junctions (STJs) are a type of cryogenic detector with a working temperature of about 100 mK. They allow the combination of low energy threshold, high quantum efficiency and good count rate capability with an excellent energy resolution; at an x‐ray energy of 5.9 keV an energy resolution of 10.8 eV (FWHM) has been achieved. The detector system described is based on STJs which consist of two superconducting Al electrodes separated by a thin dielectric tunnel barrier. The tunneling process of quasi‐particles created by deposition of energy in the electrodes leads to a detectable current signal. The STJ is equipped with a superconducting Pb absorber which is read out via phonons. The Pb absorber increases absorption efficiency (～50% at 6 keV) and suppresses detector artefacts. The degeneration of Pb, most probably due to oxidation, is overcome by the introduction of a protective SiO layer on top of the absorber. This layer leads to a slight reduction of energy resolution. Nevertheless, a resolution of 9.7 eV at 1.7 keV and of ～20 eV at 5.9 keV could be realized with a prototype detector. Currently this STJ‐based detector system is being incorporated into a prototype cryogenic spectrometer for XRF analysis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kβ/Kα x‐ray intensity ratios for bromine and iodine compounds

Kβ/Kα x‐ray intensity ratios of some Br and I compounds were studied. The samples were excited by 59.5 keV γ‐rays emitted from an Am‐241 radioisotope source and characteristic K x‐rays emitted from the samples were counted by means of an Si(Li) detector which has a resolution 155 eV at 5.9 keV. The experimental values were compared with the calculated theoretical values for elemental Br and I. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design and performance evaluation of SDD based X-ray spectrometer for future planetary exploration

Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) based X-ray spectrometer has been developed for obtaining the elemental composition of unknown samples by detecting fluorescent X-rays in the energy region 1–25 keV by a non-destructive process. The use of new technology X-ray detector provides good energy resolution for detecting the elements separated with ～150 eV apart. Here we present the design of a complete X-ray spectrometer intended for use in the future space-born experiment. The low energy threshold of <1 keV and the energy resolution of ～150 eV at 5.9 keV, as measured from the system is comparable to the standard spectrometers available off-the-shelf. We evaluated the system performance for different signal peaking time, as well as for different input count rates and show that the performance remains stable for incident count rate up to 20,000 counts per second. We have also carried out a ‘proof of concept’ experiment of measuring fluorescent X-ray spectrum from various standard XRF samples from the USGS catalog irradiated by the laboratory X-ray source ²⁴¹Am with 1 mCi activity. It is shown that intensities of various characteristic X-ray lines are well correlated with the respective elemental concentrations. A specific effort has been made while designing the developed X-ray spectrometer to use electronic components which are available in space grade so that the same electronic design can be used in the upcoming planetary missions with appropriate mechanical packaging.     

X-ray microfluorescence with synchrotron radiation applied in the analysis of pigments from ancient Egypt

In this work, X-ray microfluorescence with the synchrotron radiation technique was applied in the analysis of pigments found in decorative paintings in the sarcophagus of an Egyptian mummy. This female mummy, from the Roman Period, which was embalmed with the arms and legs swathed separately is considered one of the most important pieces of the Egyptian Collection from the National Museum (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The measurements were performed at the XRF beamline D09B of the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), using the white beam and a Si(Li) detector with resolution of 165 eV at 5.9 keV. The possible pigments found in the samples were: Egyptian blue, Egyptian green frit, green earth, verdigris, malachite, ochre, realgar, chalk, gypsum, bone white, ivory black and magnetite. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to the results in order to verify if the samples belong to the same period of a linen wrapping fragment, whose provenance was well established. PACS 07.85.Nc; 07.85.Qe; 78.70.En     

Determination of experimental K-shell fluorescence yield for potassium and calcium compounds

K-shell fluorescence yields were experimentally determined for potassium and calcium compounds using a Si(Li) X-ray detector system (FWHM=5.96 keV at 160 eV). The samples were excited by 5.96 keV photons produced by a ⁵⁵Fe radioisotope source. The experimental values are systematically lower than the theoretical values.      

硬X光弯晶谱仪的定量化标定方法

介绍了具有定量化测量能力的硬X光弯晶谱仪的结构, 利用Mo靶X光管的K特征线作为标定源, 使用绝对标定过的Si(Li)探测器对X光管出射的特征线谱进行强度和谱测量。结合X光管空间分布均匀的特点, 计算进入弯晶谱仪的光子数目, 采取了特征谱扣去轫致谱的计数处理方法, 得到了17 keV和19 keV处弯晶谱仪的绝对效率, 分别为4.3210-4和3.9410-4。     

Fundamental parameter approach to XRF spectroscopy measurements of arsenic in polyester resin skin phantoms

A fundamental parameter (FP) approach that explicitly incorporates the energy‐broadening response of the detector was developed. The ratio between Kα fluorescence peak area and the sum of coherently and incoherently scattered peak areas was used as an indicator of trace element concentration. The peak ratio was theoretically calculated using the FP method. The energy‐broadening response curve of the Si(Li) detector was estimated by matching the theoretical and experimental values of this ratio. The method was implemented for the analysis of the K‐shell x‐ray fluorescence (K‐XRF) spectra of six polyester resin samples corresponding to six different arsenic concentrations. A ¹⁰⁹Cd radioactive source provided the excitation radiation for spectra acquisition. The predicted detector energy resolution expressed as full width at half‐maximum (FWHM) for Fe Kα fluorescence peak (208 ± 5 eV at 6.4 keV) and As Kα fluorescence peak (222 ± 5 eV at 10.5 keV) were in agreement with the experimental measurements. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design and performance of a 2-D multi-wire position sensitive X-ray detector

A 2-D multi-wire position sensitive detector for X-ray diffraction and small angle X-ray scattering studies is described. The detector has an active area of 100 mm × 100 mm and consists of an anode plane with 10 μm SS wires at 3 mm spacing and a pair of orthogonal cathode readout planes with 25 μm SS wires placed at 1.5 mm spacing. The position information is obtained using charge division method and recorded using a laboratory built data acquisition system. The resolution and gas gain was measured for 5.9 keV X-rays (⁵⁵Fe-source) as a function of the anode wire voltage and gas pressure. It was observed that the proportional region of the PSD at 100 kPa pressure extended up to a high voltage value of around 1.5 kV and it shifted to high values up to 2 kV for gas pressure of 300 kPa. The energy resolution improved from 18% (FWHM) to 12% with increase in pressure. The spatial resolution of the PSD also showed improvement, with a value of 1.2 mm × 1.4 mm at 300 kPa gas pressure. A maximum gain of 5 × 10⁴ is obtained.     

Characterization of a triple-GEM position sensitive detector for X-ray fluorescence imaging

In this work, we characterized an X-ray position sensitive gaseous detector based in a triple stack of gas electron multipliers. The readout circuit is divided in 256 strips for each dimension and using a resistive chain interconnecting the strips, we are able to reconstruct the radiation interaction points by resistive charge division. The detector achieved gains above 10⁴, energy resolution of 15.28% (full width at half maximum) for 5.9 keV X-rays, and position resolution of 1.2 mm, while operating in Ar/CO₂(90/10) at atmospheric pressure.     

Measurements of Coster–Kronig enhancement factors of some elements in the atomic number range 66 ≤ Z ≤ 72

The Lι, Lα, Lβ and Lγ x‐ray production cross‐sections in four elements with Z ranging from 66 to 72 at seven different energies in the interval 8.265–11.730 keV were measured. Experimental measurements were carried out on a few elemental samples to examine the effect of Coster–Kronig transitions on fluorescence cross‐sections for the L x‐ray line using an Si(Li) detector system with an energy resolution of 160 eV at 5.96 keV x‐ray energy. Absolute values of L x‐ray cross‐sections were calculated with incorporation of the enhancement due to the Coster–Kronig effect for these elements. The measured enhancement factors are smaller than predicted by theory. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemical effects on the K<Subscript>β</Subscript>/K<Subscript>α</Subscript> X-ray intensity ratios of Mn,Ni and Cu complexes

Chemical effects on the K_β/K_α X-ray intensity ratios for some Mn, Ni, and Cu complexes of a new schiff-base with salen N₂H₂ type were investigated. The samples were excited by 59.543 keV γ-rays from a ²⁴¹Am annular radioactive source. K X-rays emitted by samples were counted by a Si(Li) detector with resolution 157 eV at 5.9 keV. We observed the chemical effect on the K_β/K_α X-ray intensity ratios for Mn, Ni and Cu complexes. The experimental results showed that the K_β/K_α X-ray intensity ratios for compounds with complexes are generally larger than those with salt form. The experimental values have been compared with the other experimental and the theoretically calculated values of pure elements. The results are in very good agreement with the others.     

A new approach to the determination of the Fano factor for semiconductor detectors

Values of the Fano factor are widely scattered in the literature, indicating the difficulties in its determination. We chose to analyze both the escape peaks and parent peaks of Ge detector spectra where the parent peak penetration depth and the escape peak escape depth are much larger than the size of the incomplete charge collection region. Hence, the escape peaks are expected to be free of low‐energy tailing as, although the actually deposited energy is low, it is deposited beyond the incomplete charge collection region. It was found that the product of electron–hole pair creation energy (ε) and the Fano factor (F) has an energy dependence at low energies, as is expected from electron transport theories. Although ε is expected to have its own energy dependence, if a reference value of 2.96 eV is assumed for ε, then the Fano factor values varied between 0.059 and 0.083. The escape peak is less advantageous for Si, hence a different method was used for Si(Li) detectors. Assuming the reference value of 3.8 eV for ε, the Fano factor was found to be 0.063 at 5.9 keV x‐ray energy. We consider the Fano factors reported here as upper limits, rather than the mean values. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种聚焦型X射线探测器在轨性能标定方法

X射线探测器是X射线天文观测及脉冲星导航的核心器件,受发射振动、高能粒子辐射损伤及元器件老化等影响,X射线探测器空间观测性能会逐渐变化,X射线探测器在轨标定有利于观测天体X射线辐射信息的准确获取及精确建模.研究利用了脉冲星辐射能谱标定X射线探测器性能的方法,能较好地消除探测器本底及空间环境噪声的影响,通过处理脉冲星导航试验卫星(XPNAV-1卫星)的Crab脉冲星观测数据,评估了我国首款聚焦型X射线探测器的在轨性能.计算结果表明,XPNAV-1卫星上聚焦型X射线探测器的有效面积在0.6-1.9 keV能段内优于2 cm~2,其中在0.7 keV能量处取得最大值3.06 cm~2,探测效率约10%;有效面积随着探测能量增大而减小,在2—3.5 keV能段内有效面积约为1 cm~2,而大于5 keV能段的有效面积约为0.1 cm~2,且此能段估计精度明显受光子统计误差影响.同时研究了考虑能量响应矩阵的探测器有效面积标定新方法,利用地面性能测试中五个特征能谱处的能量分辨率重构其能量响应矩阵,重新标定了聚焦型X射线探测器有效面积,发现该能量响应矩阵对结果影响较小.最后建议观测某些超新星遗迹监测能量分辨率及能量线性等指标的变化.     

Chemical effects on the L-shell X-ray fluorescence parameters of Ta and W compounds

The L shell X-ray production cross-sections, the intensity ratios_, and the average fluorescence yields of pure Ta, W and their compounds have been analysed. The targets were irradiated with γ-photons at 59.5 keV from a ²⁴¹Am annular source and detected using an Ultra-LEGe detector with resolution of 150 eV at 5.9 keV. The experimental results were compared with the other theoretical and experimental results. The obtained results were interpreted according to the chemical effect and influence of removing electrons from the shells above the L shell.     

X-ray semiconductor (CdTe) spectrometer for solar flare and preflare studies

This paper describes the main parameters of an instrument for X-ray flux measurement and solar flare and preflare spectrum registration. The nontraditional CdTe semiconductor detector was space qualified and has sensitivity 0.5 cm², energy region 3–30 keV, and energy resolutions ～ 1.3 keV for 5.9 keV and ～ 10% for 22.1 keV.     

Prototype GaAs X‐ray detector and preamplifier electronics for a deep seabed mineral XRF spectrometer

Work towards developing a prototype GaAs based X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer focusing on the detector‐preamplifier system for in situ characterisation of deep seabed minerals is presented. Such an instrument could be useful for marine geology and provide insight into hydrothermal processes. It would also be beneficial for deep sea mining applications. The GaAs photodiode was electrically characterised at 4 °C (ambient seawater temperature) and 33 °C. A system energy resolution (full width at half maximum) at 5.9 keV of 580 eV at 4°C, limited by the dielectric noise, broadening to 680 eV at 33°C, was recorded. The spectral performance of the system was characterised across the energy range 4.95 keV to 21.17 keV, at 33°C, using high‐purity X‐ray fluorescence calibration samples excited by a Mo target X‐ray tube. The charge output from the system was found to be linear with incident photon energy. The energy resolution was found to broaden from 695 eV at 4.95 keV to 735 eV at 21.17 keV, attributed to the increasing Fano noise with energy. The same X‐ray tube was used to fluoresce an unprepared manganese nodule (revealing the presence of Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sr, and Mo) and a black smoker hydrothermal vent sample (containing Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Mo). Such a spectrometer may also find use in future space missions to study the hydrothermal vents that are believed to exist in the oceans of Jupiter's moon Europa.