Abstract
In this work, we will report applications of the total external X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) station, a prototype assembled at the XLab Frascati laboratory (XlabF) at the INFN National Laboratories of Frascati (INFN LNF). XlabF has been established as a facility to study, design and develop X-ray optics, in particular, polycapillary lenses, as well as to perform X-ray experiments for both elemental analysis and tomography. The combination of low-power conventional sources and policapillary optics allows assembling a prototype that can provide a quasi-parallel intense beam for detailed X-ray spectroscopic analysis of extremely low concentrated samples, down to ng/g. We present elemental analysis results of elements contained in tree rings and of dust stored in deep ice cores. In addition to performing challenging environmental research studies, other experiments aim to characterize novel optics and to evaluate original experimental schemes for X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF and TXRF) and X-ray imaging.
Highlights
Due to the large penetration depth of X-rays, a variety of analytical techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 3D tomography may be used to study the inner sample structure without any destructive preparation [1,2,3]
Operating in a total external reflection regime (TXRF), the reduction of noise allows for the improvement of the detection limits, which is a fundamental aspect to be considered in the analysis of a sample with low elemental concentrations
Using the total external reflection X-ray fluorescence regime (TXRF) layout, the concentration detection is comparable to a synchrotron radiation source, while using the XRF layout the prototype does not compare with the high detection capability of Synchrotron Radiation (SR)
Summary
Due to the large penetration depth of X-rays, a variety of analytical techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 3D tomography may be used to study the inner sample structure without any destructive preparation [1,2,3]. A promising approach is the use of X-ray microfocus sources enhanced by means of polycapillary optics [8] Operating in a total external reflection regime (TXRF), the reduction of noise allows for the improvement of the detection limits, which is a fundamental aspect to be considered in the analysis of a sample with low elemental concentrations To apply this special technique in a simpler way, an incident parallel beam is required. Aeolian mineral dust in thin sections of the Antarctic deep ice cores is actively studied in order to assess the climate changes in the Late Quaternary in the Southern Hemisphere [14,15]
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