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Title: Optimizing detector geometry for trace element mapping by X-ray fluorescence

Abstract

We report that trace metals play critical roles in a variety of systems, ranging from cells to photovoltaics. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) microscopy using X-ray excitation provides one of the highest sensitivities available for imaging the distribution of trace metals at sub-100 nm resolution. With the growing availability and increasing performance of synchrotron light source based instruments and X-ray nanofocusing optics, and with improvements in energy-dispersive XRF detectors, what are the factors that limit trace element detectability? To address this question, we describe an analytical model for the total signal incident on XRF detectors with various geometries, including the spectral response of energy dispersive detectors. This model agrees well with experimentally recorded X-ray fluorescence spectra, and involves much shorter calculation times than with Monte Carlo simulations. With such a model, one can estimate the signal when a trace element is illuminated with an X-ray beam, and when just the surrounding non-fluorescent material is illuminated. From this signal difference, a contrast parameter can be calculated and this can in turn be used to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for detecting a certain elemental concentration. We apply this model to the detection of trace amounts of zinc in biological materials, and to themore » detection of small quantities of arsenic in semiconductors. In conclusion, we conclude that increased detector collection solid angle is (nearly) always advantageous even when considering the scattered signal. However, given the choice between a smaller detector at 90° to the beam versus a larger detector at 180° (in a backscatter-like geometry), the 90° detector is better for trace element detection in thick samples, while the larger detector in 180° geometry is better suited to trace element detection in thin samples.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [2]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
  2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  3. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
  4. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1257639
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1247819
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-06CH11357; R01GM104530
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Ultramicroscopy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 152; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0304-3991
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; detector geometry; signal-to-noise ratio; trace element detection; X-ray fluorescence; X-ray fluorescence microscopy

Citation Formats

Sun, Yue, Gleber, Sophie -Charlotte, Jacobsen, Chris, Kirz, Janos, and Vogt, Stefan. Optimizing detector geometry for trace element mapping by X-ray fluorescence. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/j.ultramic.2014.12.014.
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Sun, Yue, Gleber, Sophie -Charlotte, Jacobsen, Chris, Kirz, Janos, & Vogt, Stefan. Optimizing detector geometry for trace element mapping by X-ray fluorescence. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2014.12.014
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Sun, Yue, Gleber, Sophie -Charlotte, Jacobsen, Chris, Kirz, Janos, and Vogt, Stefan. Thu . "Optimizing detector geometry for trace element mapping by X-ray fluorescence". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2014.12.014. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1257639.
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@article{osti_1257639,
title = {Optimizing detector geometry for trace element mapping by X-ray fluorescence},
author = {Sun, Yue and Gleber, Sophie -Charlotte and Jacobsen, Chris and Kirz, Janos and Vogt, Stefan},
abstractNote = {We report that trace metals play critical roles in a variety of systems, ranging from cells to photovoltaics. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) microscopy using X-ray excitation provides one of the highest sensitivities available for imaging the distribution of trace metals at sub-100 nm resolution. With the growing availability and increasing performance of synchrotron light source based instruments and X-ray nanofocusing optics, and with improvements in energy-dispersive XRF detectors, what are the factors that limit trace element detectability? To address this question, we describe an analytical model for the total signal incident on XRF detectors with various geometries, including the spectral response of energy dispersive detectors. This model agrees well with experimentally recorded X-ray fluorescence spectra, and involves much shorter calculation times than with Monte Carlo simulations. With such a model, one can estimate the signal when a trace element is illuminated with an X-ray beam, and when just the surrounding non-fluorescent material is illuminated. From this signal difference, a contrast parameter can be calculated and this can in turn be used to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for detecting a certain elemental concentration. We apply this model to the detection of trace amounts of zinc in biological materials, and to the detection of small quantities of arsenic in semiconductors. In conclusion, we conclude that increased detector collection solid angle is (nearly) always advantageous even when considering the scattered signal. However, given the choice between a smaller detector at 90° to the beam versus a larger detector at 180° (in a backscatter-like geometry), the 90° detector is better for trace element detection in thick samples, while the larger detector in 180° geometry is better suited to trace element detection in thin samples.},
doi = {10.1016/j.ultramic.2014.12.014},
journal = {Ultramicroscopy},
number = C,
volume = 152,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}
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