Influence of resonant Raman scattering in the elemental analysis using X-ray emission based techniques

A tabulation of characteristic X-ray energies across the periodic table are provided where those X-rays are expected to result in a significant fractional resonant Raman scattering (RRS) contribution to the X-ray attenuation from a particular shell/subshell of the same or another element. The tabulations can be considered as guideline so as to know what can be expected due to RRS in typical photon- and particle-induced X-ray emission spectrometry. The RRS contribution is not included in the available theoretical attenuation coefficients, which are generally used in estimation of the matrix corrections in routine quantitative elemental analysis based on various X-ray emission techniques. The radiative RRS peaks can also interfere with normal X-ray spectrum and influence the elemental analysis. The RRS cross-section depends upon the energy difference of the X-ray energy and the shell/subshell ionization threshold taken in the units of the shell/subshell energy width, density of available states near the Fermi level, and the band structure in case the element is in the solid form. Some aspects of the dependence of the RRS contribution on the chemical forms of the elements are also discussed.     

MATRIX ABSORPTION CORRECTION OF MEDIUM THICK TARGETS IN XRF

This paper deals with the matrix absorption and enhancement effects of thick targets in energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis. Two kinds of absorption correction methods are studied especially for medium thick targets (5-10 mg/cm2). For analysis of hair samples, both the measurement of absorption correction coefficients and the determination of sensitivity factors using an addition method are introduced. Quantitative analysis of medial thick samples is established. The relative deviation between different methods for most of the elements is found to be less than 5 %.     

Energy-dependent systematic errors in dual-energy X-ray CT

Dual-energy X-ray computed tomography (DECT) is a technique which is designed to allow the determination of energy-independent material properties. In this study, results of a computer simulation show that energy-dependent systematic errors exist in the values of attenuation coefficients synthesized using the basis material decomposition technique with acrylic and aluminum as the basis materials, especially when a high atomic number element such as iodine (e.g., from radiographic contrast media) is present in the body. The errors are reduced when an acrylic and an iodine-water mixture are used as the basis materials. The authors propose a simple theoretical model for the calculation of energy-dependent systematic errors using effective energies at the lower and higher energy windows of the X-ray spectrum used in the DECT system. The calculated errors agree well with the errors observed in the simulation. These results suggest that the observed systematic errors are predominantly due to the energy dependence of the basis material coefficients     

Incoherent-scatter computed tomography with monochromaticsynchrotron x ray: feasibility of multi-CT imaging system forsimultaneous measurement-of fluorescent and incoherent scatter x rays

We describe a new system of incoherent scatter computed tomography (ISCT) using monochromatic synchrotron X rays, and we discuss its potential to be used in in vivo imaging for medical use. The system operates on the basis of computed tomography (CT) of the first generation. The reconstruction method for ISCT uses the least squares method with singular value decomposition. The research was carried out at the BLNE-5A bending magnet beam line of the Tristan Accumulation Ring in KEK, Japan. An acrylic cylindrical phantom of 20-mm diameter containing a cross-shaped channel was imaged. The channel was filled with a diluted iodine solution with a concentration of 200 μgI/ml. Spectra obtained with the system's high purity germanium (HPGe) detector separated the incoherent X-ray line from the other notable peaks, i.e., the iK_α and K_β1 X-ray fluorescent lines and the coherent scattering peak. CT images were reconstructed from projections generated by integrating the counts In the energy window centering around the incoherent scattering peak and whose width was approximately 2 keV. The reconstruction routine employed an X-ray attenuation correction algorithm. The resulting image showed more homogeneity than one without the attenuation correction     

能量色散X射线分析中对中厚靶的吸收校正

本文讨论了在能量色散X射线荧光分析中影响准确定量的厚靶基体吸收效应,着重研究了中厚靶的吸收校正方法。以头发样品为例,分别介绍了采用辐射体测得吸收校正系数和化学加入法测得经校正后的相对灵敏度等方法,建立了正确分析中厚靶样品的定量方法和计算程序。比较各种修正方法之间的一致性好于5％。     

土壤湿度对现场γ能谱测量的影响修正

现场γ能谱测量在地质勘查和电离辐射环境测量中是一种高效、准确、经济的方法。针对γ能谱在现场测量过程中的主要影响因素--土壤湿度,根据γ射线在土壤中的衰减规律,建立数值模型,得到不同物质的质量衰减系数和线衰减系数,计算不同土壤湿度的修正系数。同时利用四道γ能谱仪对同一地点不同土壤湿度情况下土壤中铀、钍、钾含量进行了实际测量,根据计算的修正系数得到的修正数值与HPGe谱仪测量的结果进行了比较。结果表明,现场γ能谱测量结果通过数值模拟计算修正能有效降低土壤湿度的影响。     

Reconstruction method for fluorescent X-ray computed tomography byleast-squares method using singular value decomposition

We describe a new attenuation correction method for fluorescent X-ray computed tomography (FXCT) applied to image nonradioactive contrast materials in vivo. The principle of the FXCT imaging is that of computed tomography of the first generation. Using monochromatized synchrotron radiation from the BLNE-5A bending-magnet beam line of Tristan Accumulation Ring in KEK, Japan, we studied phantoms with the FXCT method, and we succeeded in delineating a 4-mm-diameter channel filled with a 500 μg I/ml iodine solution in a 20-mm-diameter acrylic cylindrical phantom. However, to detect smaller iodine concentrations, attenuation correction is needed. We present a correction method based on the equation representing the measurement process. The discretized equation system is solved by the least-squares method using the singular value decomposition. The attenuation correction method is applied to the projections by the Monte Carlo simulation and the experiment to confirm its effectiveness     

用多个能量探测方法校正层析γ扫描透射图像重建中射线线衰减系数

对采用多个能量探测方法来校正层析γ扫描透射图像重建中射线线衰减系数进行了初步探讨.应用蒙特卡洛方法计算了18种材料在不同能量下的γ射线线衰减系数,并拟合得出当物质材料和密度确定时γ射线的线衰减系数与能量的关系,从而重建出不同能量下的透射图像.     

Positron emission tomography of large rock samples using amultiring PET instrument

The technique of positron emission tomography (PET) is well established in the field of medical imaging. Non-medical applications have also been shown to be valuable in the measurement of dynamic chemical processes, specifically in the determination of the characteristics of small rock samples. Since rock is more dense than tissue, the problems of attenuation and scatter are accentuated. However, we are able to show that measurement of porosity in a large rock sample (21.5 cm diameter) is indeed practicable using three-dimensional (3-D) acquisition techniques. Due to multiple scattering of the photons in the rock and the cylindrical symmetry of the experiment, we measured a scatter distribution which is approximately homogeneous, allowing a correction for scattered radiation with a simple method. The problems of determining attenuation coefficients and applying a scatter correction makes absolute quantisation difficult. However, relative changers in porosity within the sample can be measured with a spatial resolution not appreciably different from that in water     

Gamma-ray and neutron shielding efficiency of Pb-free gadolinium-based glasses

The radiation shielding efficiency of material depends upon photon attenuation, exposure buildup factors and neutron removal capacity. A newly developed Pb-free gadolinium-based glasses in compositions(80-x) B_2O_3-10 Si O_2-10 Ca O-x Gd_2O_3(where x = 15, 20, 25, 30 and35 mol%) had completely been investigated for their shielding efficiency with Geant4 simulation for mass attenuation coefficients and neutron total macroscopic cross section and by calculating exposure buildup factors.The exposure buildup factors for photon energy from 0.015 to 15 Me V had been calculated up to 40 mean free paths using five factors geometric progression method. The mass attenuation coefficients of the Pb-free glasses were simulated for energies from 223 to 2614 ke V and compared with the possible available experimental results. The neutron shielding efficiency of these glasses was discussed by calculating neutron total macroscopic cross section for energies from 1 e V to 14.1 Me V. Present investigations are found to be very useful for applications in nuclear engineering.     

X-ray detection with a scintillating YAP-window hybridphotomultiplier tube

A YAP(YAlO₃:Ce)-scintillating window, coated on its inner surface with an S20-photocathode, seals a cross-focusing hybrid photomultiplier tube (HPMT) equipped with a small p-i-n anode of 2-mm diameter. This new radiation detector separates X-ray lines down to about 2-keV peak energy from the HPMT noise. Its detection efficiency for high gamma energies depends on the YAP-window thickness and amounts to about 18% attenuation at 400-keV energy in the present version. Competitive radiation detectors like Si photodiodes and Si drift chambers are discussed and compared to our prototype, with particular attention given to their energy resolution and noise performance, which limits their active area considerably     

Correction factors for the self-absorption of gamma-rays in a cylindrical sample

A distribution of distances was calculated which a gamma-ray will travel in order to escape from a cylindrical sample with a radius of 5 mm and a length of 20 mm in a solid angle of 2 sr. From this distribution, attenuation factors were calculated for linear attenuation coefficients varying from 0.001 to 9 (mm^?1) and from these corrections the self-absorption of gamma-rays can be calculated for different gamma-ray energies and for different chemical compositions of the sample. The self-absorption in iron and lead was measured for different energies and the measured values are in a good agreement with the calculated ones.     

PET attenuation correction using mean attenuation coefficients: asimulation study

It is desirable to use mean population attenuation coefficients to reduce the statistical fluctuations in measured attenuation maps. In addition, the use of mean attenuation coefficients is also expected to facilitate algorithmic approaches to attenuation correction. Because of the large variation in lung attenuation coefficients both within and among individuals, there is concern about the errors using mean attenuation might create. To test the magnitude of this problem, myocardial metabolic studies were simulated. Attenuated projections were generated from 20 emission and transmission distributions spanning the heart volume. The projections were corrected with both the actual attenuation map and with a mean attenuation map. Quantitative comparisons of the reconstructed images demonstrate no significant differences in the myocardial distributions. However, errors in the lung field exceeded 300% in some regions     

Apparent Linear Attenuation Coefficients in Phase Contrast X-Ray Tomography

In the inline phase contrast X-ray tomography the reconstructed apparent linear attenuation coefficient values may be greatly larger than sample’s linear attenuation coefficients or even be negative. In this work we present a general formula to quantitatively relate the apparent linear attenuation coefficient values in cone-beam phase contrast tomography to sample’s linear attenuation coefficients and refractive indices. This formula overcomes the gross inaccuracy of the existing formula in the literature in analyzing high-resolution phase contrast tomography, and it will be useful for correctly interpreting and quantifying the apparent linear attenuation coefficients in cone-beam X-ray phase contrast tomography.     

Parametrization of the total photon mass attenuation coefficients for photon energies between 100 eV and 1000 MeV

A convenient way of generating mass attenuation coefficients for data analysis in various fields of X-ray spectroscopy is by means of semi-empirical schemes. However, the validity of most of the existing schemes is limited to relatively narrow energy intervals (typically 1–50 keV) and their accuracy is usually poor especially in regions near absorption edges. A few years ago, we use a new semi-empirical scheme that enabled us to fit, for the first time, photon data for all elements in the very wide energy range, i.e. between 0.1 and 1000 keV. The scheme was found flexible enough to provide excellent fit to the most recent compiled photon cross section data in the entire energy range. It was based on fitting data to an exponential function with the addition of a Klein–Nishina term to account for dominant incoherent scattering at higher energies. In the present work, our former scheme is extended beyond the pair-production threshold (1.02 MeV) all the way to 1000 MeV. An interactive MS Windows based computer program for generating, printing and displaying mass attenuation coefficients based on the proposed scheme has been developed.     

Development of precise energy spectrum measurement technique for high-power pulsed X-ray sources for industrial use

It is difficult to obtain an accurate energy spectrum by measurement for X-rays which are produced by linear accelerators because so many photons are emitted within a very short period and the photons have energies in a wide range. In order to solve the problem, we developed a new technique utilizing the Bayesian estimation method combined with attenuation curve measurement using a step-shaped attenuation material. We experimentally confirmed the validity of the presented technique for an X-ray computed tomography (CT) system. By using the accurate energy information of emitted X-rays obtained by the developed technique, the quality of non-destructive inspection images can be expected to be improved for industrial X-ray radiography, X-ray CT and so on, using high-power X-ray sources.     

蒙特卡罗模拟确定γ射线衰减系数函数及参数

在中低密度样品中,γ射线的线衰减系数主要由γ射线能量和样品密度决定,采用MCNP(Monte Carlo N Particle Transport Code)程序模拟计算了多种γ射线能量和多种样品密度条件下的线衰减系数,对线衰减系数模拟值进行多元非线性回归,确定了以γ射线能量和样品密度为因变量的线衰减系数函数及参数。实验测定了三种能量γ射线在6种不同密度样品中的线衰减系数值,并与模拟所得函数值进行比较分析。结果表明,所得函数值与实验值的相对误差均在7%以内,蒙特卡罗程序计算所得函数值与实验测量值较为吻合,所采用的函数模型准确验证了线衰减系数与γ射线能量、样品密度之间的关系特征。     

Contribution of near-edge processes to attenuation of the characteristic X-rays in elements with 48 ≤ Z ≤ 83

Attenuation of the characteristic K X-rays in the ₄₈Cd, ₅₀Sn, ₅₂Te, ₆₄Gd, ₆₅Tb, ₆₆Dy, ₆₈Er, ₇₄Ta, ₇₅Re, ₇₉Au, ₈₂Pb and ₈₃Bi elements have been measured with especial emphasis for the X-ray energies (E_in) in the region of respective K-shell/L_i subshell (i = 1, 2, 3) ionization threshold (B_K/B_Li). The characteristic X-rays were obtained from different fluorescent target elements excited by the X-rays and γ-rays emitted from the ⁵⁵Fe and ²⁴¹Am radioisotopes, respectively. The measurements were performed using an energy-dispersive detection set up involving a low-energy Ge detector. The measured attenuation coefficients for the X-rays with energies away from ionization thresholds of the attenuator element are found to be in good agreement with the available theoretical coefficients, which incorporate contributions of the photoionization, and the Rayleigh and Compton scattering processes. However, the measured attenuation coefficients are found to deviate significantly from the theoretical values for the X-rays with energies in vicinity of B_K/Li. The observed alteration is attributed to the X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) for negative B_K/Li − E_in values, and the K-shell/L_i subshell resonant Raman scattering (RRS) process for positive B_K/Li − E_in values. Systematic of the K-shell/L_i subshell RRS contribution to attenuation of the X-rays are discussed in terms of the respective oscillator density and fraction of electrons available in the K-shell/L_i subshell Lorentzian profile of the attenuation element below E_in.     

Size-resolved source apportionment of aerosol particles using polycapillary X-ray lens with a plateau in its focal spot

A laboratory micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometer based on a special polycapillary X-ray lens (PXRL) was used to carry out the source apportionment of aerosol particles. In the curve of the distribution of the X-ray intensity in the focal spot of the special PXRL, there was a plateau with a diameter of 21.3 μm in which the distribution of the X-ray intensity was homogeneous. The gain in flux density in the plateau of the PXRL is 1490. The uniformity of this plateau was 2.9%. This was helpful for the quantitative X-ray fluorescence analysis of a single aerosol particle with smaller size than that of the plateau of the PXRL. The fingerprint database of aerosol particles with given sizes from various air pollution sources was established with the single particle analysis method. The size-resolved source apportionment of aerosol particles in haze in Beijing city was performed with this fingerprint database.     

沉积岩和火成岩对γ射线的吸收及散射的比较研究

介绍沉积岩（Ｓｉｔｉｏｎｅ和Ｃｏｎｇｌｏｍｅｒａｔｅ）和火成岩（ａｎｄｅｓｉｔｅ和ｆｅｌｓｉｔｅ）的γ射线的衰减系数与散射系数的测量方法和测量结果。四种材料均制成颗粒粗细不同的粉末，在制成样品。颗粒的尺寸有：０．１７、０．１３、０．０９５、０．０３５、０．０６３ｎｍ五种。同时也测量上述品种的天然岩石的衰减系数与散射系数。使用６０Ｃｏ、１３７Ｃｓ、１３３Ｂａ等γ射线源，能量在０．３６到１．３３ＭｅＶ范围。详细地研究了线性衰减系数μ，质量衰减系数μ／ρ、弛豫长度冲及侧边散射系数φ与颗粒直径ｄ、样品密度ρ和γ射线能量是Ｅ的关系。发现线性衰减系数与ｄ和Ｅ成反比与ρ成正比，而侧边散射系数与ｄ和Ｅ成正比但与ρ成反比。比较此两大类岩石的μ和φ差异的原因。实验的结果认为这些材料可用于屏蔽γ射线。