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Title: An Apparatus For Student Projects Using External-Beam PIXE And PIGE

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3586205· OSTI ID:21513460
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Physics Department, United States Naval Academy, 572C Holloway Road, Annapolis, MD 21402 (United States)

We recently installed a simple endstation at the Naval Academy Tandem Accelerator Laboratory to support student projects using external-beam PIXE and PIGE. It consists of a short, graphite-lined beamline extension with a thin window, an interlocked box that surrounds the target, detectors for x- and gamma rays, provision for flooding the target with helium gas, easily changed x-ray absorbers, and a compact video camera for monitoring the position of the beam spot. We used this system to measure the elemental composition of colonial-era architectural materials, principally bricks and mortar, from James Madison's Montpelier, the reconstructed Virginia estate of the fourth President of the United States. We describe the design and construction of the system, relate some of our experiences using it, and present some preliminary data from our investigations.

OSTI ID:
21513460
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1336, Issue 1; Conference: CAARI 2010: 21. International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry, Fort Worth, TX (United States), 8-13 Aug 2010; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3586205; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English