ABSTRACT
Figure 8.1 shows a typical PIXE spectrum of an intermediate thickness specimen with the different x-ray peaks identified (Johansson 1992). It consists mainly of the Kα and Kβ peaks from the light and medium-heavy elements, but L x-rays from lead (Pb) are also present. The continuous background radiation below 10 keV is bremsstrahlung emitted by secondary electrons, and there is also a high-energy tail consisting of bremsstrahlung produced directly by the proton beam. Thus, PIXE analysis involves two basic aspects: assigning observed x-ray peaks (energies) to appropriate elements (element identification) and converting observed x-ray peaks (areas) into elemental concentrations (concentration quantification). This section describes the fundamental physics of element identification and concentration quantifications involved in the PIXE analysis.
