Principle
Various solutions, with known element concentrations, are
subjected to polychromatic X-rays. The energy and intensity of the
resulting fluorescence radiation of the dissolved elements are
analysed with the aid of a semiconductor detector and a
multichannel analyser. In order to determine the unknown element
concentrations in the solutions, calibration is performed. For this
purpose, the known element concentrations of the calibration
solution are plotted against the corresponding fluorescence
intensities of the dissolved elements.
Tasks
- Calibrate the semiconductor energy detector with the aid of the
characteristic radiation of the tungsten X-ray tube.
- Record the fluorescence spectra of potassium bromide solutions
with various concentration levels.
- Determine the intensity of the characteristic bromine
radiation, based on the spectra.
- Create a calibration function that is based on the
concentration values as well as the intensity of the associated
fluorescence radiation.
What you can learn about
- Bremsstrahlung
- characteristic X-radiation
- energy levels
- fluorescent yield
- absorption of X-rays
- Auger effect
- scattering of X-rays
- matrix effects
- solubility
- solubility product
- semiconductor
- energy detectors
- multi-channel analysers