The Use of Field Emission Tubes in X-Ray Analysis

Abstract

Recently developed, miniature, steady state, field emission tubes are finding application in several areas of x-ray analysis. These tubes require only a high voltage, low current power supply to produce relatively intense beams of x-rays. Since anodes can be fabricated from almost any element, and since the tubes can be operated at potentials up to about 70 kV, many different output x-ray spectra are available. Miniaturized battery operated x-ray sources of this type, occupying a volume of about one liter, have several advantages over radioisotope sources. These include cost, safety, and controllable output spectra and intensity. X-ray sources for energy dispersive fluorescence analyzers are designed so that no scattered characteristic radiations will interfer with the analysis of the sample fluorescence. Sources which are essentially monoenergetic can be fabricated for use in non-dispersive x-ray fluorescence analyzers. Because of the intensity and safety of the field emission tubes, such analyzers can be made which are sensitive while compact, portable, and inexpensive. In x-ray absorption analysis the measurement of absorption edge jump ratios provides a quantitative measure of sample impurities. Field emission tubes whose output spectra consist primarily of brems-strahlung are particularly well suited to such measurements. The techniques involved in using these tubes in x-ray analysis are described.