Principle
Various ore samples are subjected to polychromatic X-rays. The energy of the resulting fluorescence radiation is analysed with the aid of a semiconductor detector and a multichannel analyser. The energy of the corresponding characteristic X-ray fluorescence lines is determined. The elements of the samples are identified by comparing the line energies with the corresponding table values.
Tasks
- Calibrate the semiconductor energy detector with the aid of the characteristic radiation of the tungsten X-ray tube.
- Record the fluorescence spectra that are produced by the samples.
- Determine the energy values of the corresponding fluorescence lines and compare the experimental energy values with the corresponding table values in order to identify the ore samples.
Learning objectives
- Bremsstrahlung
- characteristic X-radiation
- energy levels
- fluorescent yield
- semiconductor energy detectors
- multichannel analysers