Study of bremsstrahlung radiation coming from a transmission type x-ray generator and its application on EDXRF technique

Abstract

We have demonstrated the use of the bremsstrahlung radiation from a small, portable, transmission type x-ray generator that can be used in energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence technique as a tool to perform non-destructive elemental analysis of solid samples employed in inter-disciplinary science research. As our knowledge goes, till date, this is the first attempt to generate the bremsstrahlung spectrum theoretically from a portable transmission type x-ray generator and compared it with the actual observation. Theoretically generated bremsstrahlung spectra are also found to be in good agreement with the experimentally observed spectra obtained with various operating anode voltages of the x-ray generator. A computer program has been developed utilizing a few atomic parameters to obtain the elemental concentrations in the sample by a single run using the whole bremsstrahlung. The knowledge of incoming x-ray flux, geometry of experimental arrangements are not required in this technique. To validate the technique, we have taken two samples: an Indian one rupee coin of the year 2000 and a NIST made brass sample, whose compositions are well known. We have used these samples to expose to the bremsstrahlung radiation, produced by the operating anode voltages 20, 25, and 30 KV. The relative concentrations of different elements are determined, which is in good agreement with the earlier results.