Intense sources of monochromatic X-rays for XRF analysis from cyclotron beams

Abstract

The possibility of using energetic proton beams to induce characteristic X-rays from pure elemental targets has been investigated. The K X-ray yields and the background radiation produced by 1–100 MeV protons striking a number of different targets have been calculated. Activation of the target caused by nuclear reactions has also been evaluated. The results show that yields as high as 5 × 10 10 photons s −1 μA −1 sr −1 could be easily produced with negligible atomic background. Selection of the X-ray energy and intensity could be easily achieved by adjusting different parameters. Fluxes of such orders of magnitude should allow to reach sensitivities at the ppm level with acquisition times considerably lower than those required by standard techniques.