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Line‐focusing x‐ray monochromator for the analysis of trace elements in biological specimens
Author(s) -
Ong Poen S.,
Cox Hollace L.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.594207
Subject(s) - monochromator , optics , excitation , radiation , line (geometry) , beam (structure) , spectrum analyzer , materials science , x ray , physics , wavelength , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
A line‐focusing x‐ray monochromator has been designed and developed to be used with an energy dispersive detection system for the quantitative analysis of trace elements in biological specimens. This instrument uses a cylindrically curved Johansson‐type crystal to monochromatize and focus the excitation radiation into a line 0.5 mm wide and 40 mm long. The excitation radiation chosen for these experiments was Mo K α and the total intensity of the line‐focused beam was estimated to be 2×10 7 cps. Because of the narrow width and high power density of the excitation beam, small tissue specimens 1×1×12 mm in size along with a single strand of hair were analyzed for trace elements from Al through Sr. For the transition elements, concentrations of a few parts per million were easily detected with this analyzer.