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Personal‐computer‐based system for electron beam X‐ray microanalysis of biological samples
Author(s) -
Foster Margaret C.,
Saubermann Albert J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1991.tb03097.x
Subject(s) - software , personal computer , microanalysis , analyser , ascii , sample (material) , elemental analysis , computer science , x ray , data acquisition , computer graphics (images) , materials science , computer hardware , optics , chemistry , physics , operating system , organic chemistry , chromatography
SUMMARY A system based on a personal computer has been developed which provides a relatively inexpensive way to equip an electron microscopy laboratory for quantitative elemental analyses of cryosectioned biological samples. This system demonstrates the feasibility of making an X‐ray analyser from a personal computer, together with commercially available hardware and software components. Hardware and software have been assembled to drive the beam in a scanning electron microscope, collect and analyse X‐ray spectra, and save, retrieve, and analyse data. Our software provides a menu‐controlled user interface to direct spectra acquisition and analysis. Spot analyses, video images, and quantitative elemental images may be obtained and results transferred in ASCII format to other computers. Wet weight, as well as dry weight, concentrations are calculated, if measurements were made of areas of the hydrated sample before it was freeze‐dried. Grey‐level copies of video and quantitative elemental images may be made on a laser printer.