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A microcomputer based control and data acquisition system for early model wavelength‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometers
Author(s) -
Jablonski Bruce B.,
Leyden Donald E.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
x‐ray spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.447
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1097-4539
pISSN - 0049-8246
DOI - 10.1002/xrs.1300100407
Subject(s) - microcomputer , minicomputer , flexibility (engineering) , spectrometer , computer science , principal (computer security) , data acquisition , computer hardware , optics , physics , operating system , mathematics , telecommunications , chip , statistics
Early model wavelength‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometers can be inexpensively fitted with computer capability through the use of a microcomputer. The principal advantage of the microcomputer over a minicomputer is low cost and the principal disadvantage is relatively slow computational speed. We have found that an Apple II plus microcomputer can perform all of the tasks previously assigned to a larger (and more expensive) minicomputer. Ready availability, ease of service and program flexibility make the microcomputer an attractive choice for a laboratory computer. A matrix effect correction program, XRF‐4, has been run in the microcomputer with excellent results.