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Sodium and Magnesium Fluorescence Analysis—Part I: Method

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

Burton L. Henke*
Affiliation:
Pomona College Claremont, California
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Abstract

As is well known, the fluorescent yield decreases very rapidly with the atomic number with the result, for example, that sensitive sodium and magnesium analysis is extremely difficult if not impossible with conventional X-ray spectrographs. It is demonstrated, however, that analysis for sodium and magnesium can be accomplished with sensitivity comparable to that conventionally obtained for elements such as aluminum, silicon, and phosphorous, providing that the conditions for excitation and measurement of the associated soft X-radiations are optimized, A high-intensity demountable tube using an aluminum anode has been developed which can be used interchangeably with the conventional spectrographic X-ray source. This provides a large amount of incident radiation, aluminum foil filtered, optimally close in wavelength to that of the line radiation being excited. A gypsum analyzing crystal is used along with greatly reduced beam collimation. The standard flow proportional counter and pulse height discrimination is employed. An appropriate filter, such as aluminum foil, is used as a window for the counter1 to provide further discrimination and enhanced signal-to-background ratio.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 1962

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References

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9.A very useful work on the problem of excitation of the elements from atomic number 19 (K) to atomic number 13 (Al) has been recently accepted for publication by the Journal of Applied Physics—“The Target and Inherent Filtration as Factors in the Fluorescence Excitation of X-rays,” by Nathan Spielberg, Philips Laboratories, Irvkigton-on-Hudson, New York.Google Scholar