A decade’s worth of otolith PIXE analyses

Over the past 10 years, several thousand otoliths have been analyzed with PIXE (using 2.55 MeV protons) at LIBAF (Lund Ionbeam Analysis Facility, formerly LNMP Lund Nuclear Micro Probe). Over 40 elements have been identified in otoliths, many at levels suitable for PIXE analysis. Readily detectable elements in otoliths starting with Ca are: Ca (the matrix), Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Cd, Sn (difficult), I, Ba (sometimes difficult), Pb (difficult). The detector system, used over this time period, is more sensitive than many other X-ray detector systems, since it consists of eight HPGE detector elements (100 mm² each), in an annular formation around the beam entrance. Using a thick absorber allows us to use quite high beam current, typically 12 nA, but sometimes up to 20 nA. This permits us to have low detection limits within short analysis times. Additionally, light stable isotope research is widespread in the sciences including ecology. Stable isotopes of N provide information about trophic level (“who eats who”), providing the opportunity to map out the switching of diets from one food type to another. Oxygen isotopes are useful as “environmental thermometers”. Currently, most of such analyses require destruction of the otolith, and nitrogen isotope analysis may require dissolving entire otoliths, thus losing all temporal information. We present new techniques using new types of detectors, double side silicon strip detector (DSSSD). The detectors, electronics and the laboratory setup are described in detail; for our analysis, a MeV proton and a deuterium microbeam at LIBAF is used. The analysis is performed immediately after the PIXE analysis, without moving the sample.