Room-temperature mercuric iodide spectrometry for low-energy x-rays

Abstract

A discussion of the limits of energy resolution in different energy ranges is given. The energy resolution of a spectrometer is analyzed in terms of the parameters characterizing the crystal, the detector, and the amplification electronics. A high-resolution room-temperature HgI 2 spectrometry system was used to measure low-energy X-ray fluorescence spectra. For the Mg K α X-ray line the measured resolution was 245 eV (fwhm); the electronic noise linewidth of the system was 225 eV. Alpha-particles were used to excite X-ray fluorescence from low- Z elements separately or in combination. The shape of the photopeaks in the spectra is discussed.